Hello, I bought this bronze statue, depicting a seated Greek goddess next to an urn on a stand and an arrows carrier from an ebay seller. At the time, the seller didn't indicate or hadn't noticed that it was signed, but when I received it, I saw that it was signed by French sculptor, Leon Pilet, on the front of the arrows carrier by her side next to the seat.
It needs a good clean and I was wondering if anyone could advise as to how to carefully clean it. I'd read somewhere that mild soap and water and a soft toothbrush might do it.
It has also been painted at a later date perhaps and rather crudely too. Would there be any safe method of stripping off the paint or should it be left alone as is.
I have looked on the internet for other works of Leon Pilet and I can't find the same statue to find out the name/title and year it was made. I'd read that Pilet did most of his bronzes at the end of the 1800's to early 1900's and he died in 1916. I was wondering if perhaps the statue is meant to be Diana, the huntress because of the arrows. Does anyone know what the urn represents?
Any help with the above would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Jill
PS. I've tried writing this message several times, attaching photos, but it says something about the path of the photos being wrong. I try again and it says I've already posted the message, but when I look on the message board the message never appears.