Hi Frank,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

Auguste Rodin created the "Hand of God" around 1896. He actually produced a few versions in different materials (like marble and bronze) over several years, but the original concept was developed in the mid-1890s.
The Hand of God by Rodin is often seen as a meditation on creation itself. The sculpture shows a large, powerful hand gently holding a clump of earth from which a male and female figure are emerging — kind of like Adam and Eve being born. It's Rodin’s way of representing divine creativity, where the human form is shaped directly by the hand of a higher power. The hand is unfinished and rough in places, almost blending into the raw material, suggesting that creation is an ongoing, living process rather than something static and complete.

The signature reads "A. Rodin", which is correct for Rodin's authentic sculptures (especially lifetime works). The style of the signature looks integrated into the surface, meaning it’s part of the original model, not sharply chiseled in afterward — good sign. The flow and slightly uneven quality of the letters (especially the "A" and the "R") are consistent with authentic Rodin lifetime casts. There's also a softness to the engraving, not the hyper-clean lines you sometimes see on later reproduction molds. The patina is deep and rich, suggesting natural aging and, lastly, the lack of an edition number also points to a lifetime casting. It's probable that it has castings under the base mount.

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

Auguste Rodin
"Hand of God", circa 1896
bronze
signed
Approximately 16 inches
CONDITION: This sculpture appears to be in good condition
PROVENANCE: Inherited
$ 3,000-5,000*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia