WW1 German war trophy soldier with rifle

Left in my mothers possession by US army Full Colonel Allison L Nicholson, original 1914 war trophy given to a German soldier apparently... see pictures sorry that's the best pics I can get it's fragile brittle and heavy(30lbs?) any idea on rarity and demand??

 

"Strong and Faithful stands the Watch on the Rhine."
I think it is more of a general patriotic and symbolic object than a war trophy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Wacht_am_Rhein

 

Interesting conclusion. It is possible. The way I see it if i take the persons word who owned it for decades up until a few weeks ago, I assume the inscription is historically fitting for a trophy because the song was about the German territory(Rhine) the French tried to take control of around Napoleonic conquest times . and This statue is dated the year that's France /Germany had declared war against each other and there would have been ample time for an enlisted man who was already serving, to fight and serve his time, and retire from the service & get this given to him. Perhaps the signature on it will tell who made it and for whatever purpose they were made? Or perhaps there are more of these and one can find out what they are advertised as

 

The way I see it if I take the person's word who owned it for decades

This is something to take into consideration but for single objects from random people, as likely to be wrong as right. It may be a starting point but is not a conclusion.
The near universal way of 'rewarding' military personnel is with campaign and gallantry medals. Not big heavy statues.
Soldier's trophies are usually stuff they have stolen from the enemy or occupied civilians.

Incidentally, you do not specify the material of the statue. And do please remember to select 'full size' for images.

 

It is a copper color but appears to be bronze or a bronze alloy with copper. I have no way of knowing but it does look more coppery than a traditional pure bronze statue

 

And I'm quite familiar with things taken from the enemy. There are some Chinese pistols a couple rooms down the hall from me, that were taken from people that were "terminated" by my grandpa himself. I'm sure he took his fair share... I am using the colloquial American definition of a trophy on. It was given to the soldier by either the people he came home to or the people involved in his discharge. He didn't not buy himself a soldier statue and in fact it was purchased by an American from that WW1 soldier in the 50s-60s?. I may be able to get you more second hand information on origin that will help you make a final call. Thank you for the intelligent discussion it is healhy

 

A pic of the underside is usually helpful. The color is the same as bronzed baby shoes, just making me think of bronze-coated objects done by electroplating or similar processes. Your statue could be plaster coated with bronze. Pic of underside may confirm or dispell that possibility.

Now don't leave us hanging on how your grandpa became an executioner in China, that's got to be interesting!

 

Is there flaking on the right foot and if so can you tell what the material beneath is? pot metal..chalk
Would you be able to do a picture of the bottom of the base? Don't know if I missed it but what are dimensions please.
Sorry Spring..think I was typing a little slower than you

 

Ok firstly thanks for responses! I just woke up so I will have to measure it with a tape. The item is tall like 30 inches maybe? I have read about some statues of Kaiser that are similar height. Yea there is noticeable peeling/deterioration around the feet, and I haven't looked to see what's underneath. I suspect i Could be Lead, as The thing is HEAVY... probably one of ththe reasons it's starting to go. I will update after breakfast... also my grandpa was well... an army man who fought in North Korea(Chinese fought USA) and began his notable rise in military ranks by kickin aff and taking names. He's been shot in the butt(humorous) and had a Chinese hand grenade explode literally right next to his head(he was laying down lik in a trench or behind something I think) and claims if it were an American Grenada he would have been killed instantly. He lost some hearing from that grenade and has shrapnel inside his ear still. Got a Purple Heart for it. As well as the butt shot...he claims he woke up in the hospital bare ass naked one day with full camouflage paint on his face and no one was in sight so he got up, walked out of the medical tent, and turns a corner and this nurse sees him, stark nude, clearly injured from shrapnel and camouflage painted. It was a funny story when he told me it!

 

Interesting. Will we be able to see the bottom of the statue?

 

Can't be sure but looks like it may be bronze clad.

 

Alright time to get sleuthing. I'm getting my magnifying glass and will check the bottom if it's manageable

 

At the bottom of The pedestal the soldier is mounted on, it seems there are two separate thick layers of brass cladding... the base metal appears to be Tin or another similarly colored metal... the item is not the most resistant to wear and there probably is a marking underneath. One moment and will try to safely examine the area

 

Where are ze feelthy peeksures?

 

There are no identifying marks of any sort on The underside of the object I expect The "M enclosed in a circle that goes into the letter"mark behind the soldier is all that was put on it as a makers mark

 

New theory it is at least 2 layers of thick bronze plated tin/another elemental metal or alloy.layered over a core of steel or iron...

 

That's an M inside a G - maker's or artist's monogram, I would think.

 

The soldier doesn't have the reverberating ring of tapping/knocking on solid brass, plus the color from where it's been scratched or peeled back is a giveaway. Definitely tin, or less likely aluminum(items heavy). When tapping on the bottom front of his mackinaw/uniform jacket... there is the sound and feeling that there is a hollow space between it and the core beneath. But tap a few inches up above his hands and it feels solid. Interesting to say the least !

 

The metal would almost certainly be spelter, a mainly zinc alloy used for castings as a cheap alternative to bronze.