101817 | FRANCE. Water Buffalo Art Deco bronze uniface Plaque.

101817  |  FRANCE. Water Buffalo Art Deco bronze uniface Plaque. Issued circa 1931. African animals series (75x51mm, 129.86 g). By M. Thénot in Paris.

 

Water buffalo standing right among the weeds and ferns. Edge: «cornucopia» BRONZE FRANCE.

 

Gem Mint State. Yellow-bronze surfaces, with great detail and relief on the obverse.

 

Likely issued around the time of the French colonial expo—held in Paris from May–November 1931—this is from a series of ten plaques sculpted by Maurice René Thénot displaying animals from Africa. All are rather imposing and feature the very much en vogue use of Art Deco.