Duron, Paoli, Nieri & Bacci Chalkware

All numbers below were found attached to an actual “ARNOVA [number]” marking on a real listed object, with subject matter noted where a listing described it. Sorted numerically.

Number | Subject (from listings) | Notes
—— | ———————— | —–
100    | Madonna and Child (religious) | dated “1920/30” in one listing; signed S. Melani; ~53-54cm
134    | African man figure | spear element noted as often missing
165    | Geisha bust | on marble base; “made in” mark variant noted
171*   | Lady Lamp | Click for details
193*   | unidentified subject; Seen with “G G” initials variant | Click for details
197*   | unidentified subject | Click for details
203    | Woman with dogs | dated 1900-1949 generically, likely 1930s
207    | unidentified figure, “subtle double movement in strength” per listing | bought originally in a Brussels shop, per seller note
208    | Girl’s face bust | on painted plaster socle
209    | Candlesticks | very early/worn example noted by one seller
221*   | Lady Lamp | Click for details
229    | Couple with sheep | pastoral subject
244    | Christ / Sacred Heart bust | religious; described by one Dutch dealer as “the French brand Arnova”
274    | Woman with seagull | Art Nouveau-leaning subject despite Art Deco dating; sold as “antique French statue” by one dealer
282    | unidentified, called “rare” by seller | 1920s/30s
293    | Woman with child and dog | recurs across MULTIPLE listings (at least 4 independent sales found) — likely a strong seller in its day
296    | Woman in bathing attire feeding seabirds | 1920s subject
312    | Woman with birds |
341    | Woman with birds (mantel piece) |
344    | Stag/deer with removable antlers | one listing locates as “France, 1930s-40s”
369    | Woman with two poodles | seated on a small gate/fence
383    | Woman with a young deer (mantel topper) |
418    | Archer/Sagittarius (hunter with bow) | also seen as “Pêcheur” (fisherman) — see 428, possible confusion between two similar male-figure-with-implement pieces
428    | “Pêcheur” (Fisherman) | sold via a Mons, Belgium auction house specifically — strong geographic anchor for the firm
441   | Gilt-finish bust, “possibly a film star likeness”
475*   | Lady on a canoe | Click for details
477    | African man in a canoe | variant of the canoe subject with a male figure — compare against 475/480
480*   | Lady on a canoe | Click for details — ALSO independently documented at a Jordaens (Belgium) auction house as “a vintage plaster statue of an African man in a canoe … Salvatore Melani for Arnova 480″ — this CONFLICTS with “lady”
509*   | Lady Lamp | Click for details
531    | unidentified, S. Melani signed | 31cm
620    | unidentified figure |


OPEN QUESTIONS

1. The 475/477/480 canoe-figure cluster has a real, documented gender inconsistency across listings (lady vs African man).
2. “Moderna” as the renamed successor to ARNOVA is the strongest lead for expanding the catalogue further — worth actively searching
   “Moderna Melani” and “Moderna [number]” listings as a follow-up pass.
3. The Carli Frères Wikipedia article (both French and Dutch versions exist, Dutch is more detailed) is the best lead toward a real primary
   source: it cites Cor Engelen & Mieke Marx, “Beeldhouwkunst in België vanaf 1830” (Brussels, Studia 90, 2022), pages 456-458, which
   apparently discusses Melani-adjacent material directly. Worth trying to source this book (likely via Belgian libraries/booksellers) before
   publishing firm claims.
4. Given the strength of the Brussels/Schaerbeek casting-house connection, it may be worth checking Belgian business registries or
   the Belgian equivalent of UK Companies House (Banque-Carrefour des Entreprises) for a historical “Arnova” or “Moderna” registration —
   this is the kind of archival pull that turned up real founder/date info for Carli Frères and could do the same here.