A pair of lead figures of Cupid and Psyche
early 20th century
each titled on base and now on earlier rare Blanchard terracotta pedestals, one with circular manufacturers' stamp inscribed Blanchard terra cotta London 1861 and the other with rectangular stamp inscribed terra cotta mark H Blanchard and Co, Blackfriars Rd London
Statue 96cm high, 149cm high overall
Condition Report: |
Nice variegated patination a few very small areas of bruising and scratching of lead figures but overall nice antique condition with no major losses or damages; Pedestals with some areas of chipping mainly around top and base, also some chipping to swags of fruit mainly on end, one pedestal with 6in area of surface lamination of material; one pedestal with old firing cracks but not structural |
Estimate: |
£8,000 - £10,000
|
Hammer price:
|
£17,000 |
Bidding ended. Lot has been sold.
This rare pair of lead statues were almost certainly
made from moulds taken from two 19th century French sculptures
either originally in marble or bronze. Although popular in the 18th
century lead was superseded by cast iron in the latter half of the 19th
century before undergoing a revival in interest in the early 20th
century when this pair were probably made, however they do not appear in any of
the catalogues of the established lead producers of the time, such as
H.Crowther and Son or J.P. White and as such are probably one off castings.
Unusually, the two Blanchard pedestals, although identical have different
Blanchard stamps.
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