Adolphe Masselot

Adolphe Eduard Masselot (1877–1953) was a French sculptor who is best known for his work on war memorials for which there was a huge demand after 1918. Initially he worked with Maurice Ringot. Later he would bring his sons into the business, teaching and mentoring them in the process, and ultimately forming Sociéte Alphonse Masselot. After World War II, Masselot founded a foundry with his sons.

Early life Masselot, son of Joseph Masselot (d. 1889), was born around 26 December 1877, in Lille, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France. The family lived in central Lille near Notre Dame de Fives cathedral, east of the Grand' Place. #tag:ref|Adolphe was at the Notre Dame de Fives cathedral on 26 December 1877, but he was not baptized on 29 December 1877. The family lived at the intersection of Rue de Calvaire and Rue Darwin, which appears to be no longer standing due to the construction of the expressway. Also in the church of Saint Maurice is the monument to Jules-Emile Lasne. Masselot worked on the marble bust and the rest of the monument was the work of a mason. Lasne had been a popular curate at Saint Maurice. The monument was inaugurated on 10 November 1913. In the Musée de la Chartreuse in Douai there is a médaillon by Masselot featuring a portrait of Victor Dubron.

Working with Robert Coin and Léon Morice Masselot also worked on the Calvary at the Basilique Sainte-Thérèse in Lisieux. He also worked on a statue of the Archangel Saint Michel at the parish church of Saint-Vaast in Armentières

Personal life and war service

In the town of the Northern French town of Lille, he married Marguerite Piétin. They were to have four children of which three were boys. He served in the army during the 1914–1918 war and became a prisoner of war. During the 1939–1945 war, his sons served in the forces and two of them became prisoners of war. After the war Masselot and his sons started an aluminium foundry.