BRUNO LEIBOVITZ - Lot 305

BRUNO LEIBOVITZ I was born in Paris in 1954, and have been interested in miniatures since childhood, especially model aircraft. Then it was the discovery of HISTOREX figurines that opened up the world of collectable soldiers to me. After we moved to the 2nd arrondissement of Paris, I stumbled across Jacques Bittard's store, a designer of unique pieces in the Palais Royal. After looking at his window display, he invited me in to get a better look at his work, which fascinated me. It was he who taught me the technique of lead figurines, soldering, molding, working with lead sheet and brass wire and, above all, discovering oil painting. After military service, I became a professional figurine maker, creating one-off pieces, mainly for La Vieille France boutique in Paris. This was the time of the rediscovery of the figurine, with the emergence of British manufacturers and the opening of specialized stores like Cimier. The 1980s saw the creation for Le Cimier of the first Kit in the "Personalities of the 1st Empire" series, some twenty pieces that remain classic editions. In 1989, I moved to the South of France to join my brother Serge, who had just acquired a full range of foundry equipment. This led to the creation of the METAL MODELES brand, which I managed for 30 years, designing and manufacturing models in kit form. Over the years, I have built up the collection that is the subject of today's sale.