Spelter Footballer Figurine Appraisal

Vintage Bronzed Spelter Footballer Figurine

This item is a vintage figurative sculpture depicting a male football (soccer) player in dynamic action, positioned over a lace-up style ball on an integral rectangular plinth. The figurine is likely cast from spelter (zinc alloy) with a bronzed or copper-toned patinated finish. The player is dressed in a classic mid-20th-century kit, including a long-sleeved collared jersey with visible button detailing, knee-length shorts, and tall athletic socks with ribbed texture. The anatomical proportions are realistic, showing fine craftsmanship in the drapery of the clothing and the facial features. The overall color is a dull brassy-gold with significant oxidation and rubbing, particularly on the raised surfaces like the shoulders and forehead, revealing a darker grey metal beneath. The condition shows age-related wear, with surface pitting, scratches, and a heavy patina throughout. While no maker's mark is immediately visible in the frontal view, the style is reminiscent of European sports trophies or decorative mantel sculptures from the 1930s to 1950s. The plinth provides a weighted base, indicating it was intended as a standalone display piece or high-quality trophy component.