Expressionist Terracotta Sculptuee "seated Old Man" Signed E Corneilles

Superb expressionist terracotta sculpture depicting a seated old man.

This piece was made using the "1st juice" technique, consisting of starting from a base and gradually adding material to it by small successive touches, as the expressionist painters did late 19th century.
"Modeled sculptures are created when a soft or malleable material (like clay) is constructed and shaped to create a form. Modeling is an additive process."
"Of all way available to create a three-dimensional form, the simplest is that provided by the direct action of his hands on a naturally plastic material. This is why the basic technique of sculpture modeling remains with clay as the preferred material, the shape of which is modified by removing material from the initial block or by adding identical material (balls or coils)"

The artist worked here with his bare hands and his own fingerprints appear here in several places all arounde the sculpture, as a signature of his creative action.
The piece is solid and not hollow (below the subject), therefore requiring law temperature firing (to avoid splits, fels, breaks or even explosion, corresponding to the temperature difference in firing and cooling of the exterior parts and the heart of the sculpture

The sculpture is signed E. CORNEILLES on its base in 2 places, on the front and on the top of the terrace; I ve unfortunatly found any information about this artist.

The character seated, at rest, wearing a long jacket, his cap resting on his knee seems to exude great strength. This impression is suggested by the large size of his hands crossed in front of him, his lpowerfull legs and his wide shoes. He has his chin high and looks determined.

Condition: some very light lack of materials that don't alter the sculpture legibility 
His clothes and hairstyle seem to indicate a 19th century man

Sizes: 29cm height by 20,5cm depth and 13cm width