The small Golden Buddha statute can be seen in Grell’s studio as early as 1917 in family pictures and likely brought to America from Europe by Grell and remained a centerpiece in his various studios until long after his death in 1960.  It is possible that Grell sculpted the statute.  Both Grell and fellow artist Julius Moessel (1871-1957) used the statute in still life paintings.  The statute ended up with Ruth Thomys (good friends of Grell’s wife Friedl) in Santa Fe and was gifted to a friend of hers around 2005.

The Golden Buddha (with Gladiolus), Louis Grell 28″T x 31″W oil on canvas c1940, unsigned (family member by descent)

The Golden Buddha, Julius Moessel 29 1/4″T x 33″W oil on canvas signed Moessel at ll (last sold at auction in 2003)