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Premium Osenat
613
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AUSTIN MANUFACTURE
See original version (French)
613
-
AUSTIN MANUFACTURE
See original version (French)
Estimate €8,000 - €12,000
Voluntary lot
Description
AUSTIN MANUFACTURE
LARGE PAIR OF SPHINXES
Made of Austin terracotta
Engraved with the date 1833.
Height 99; Length 121; Width 44 cm
Note.
The design of this pair of sphinxes follows directly in the tradition of the great sculptural creations of the French Grand Siècle. The motif of the reclining female sphinx — with an idealised feminine face, hair held back by ribbons and her back covered by an embroidered tapestry — finds its principal archetype in the works commissioned under Louis XIV. One thinks in particular of the famous sphinxes sculpted by Guillaume Coustou (1677–1746) around 1710–1714 for the Carp Pond at the Château de Marly (now preserved in the exedra of the Tuileries Garden). This innovative design spread rapidly throughout Europe thanks to engravings and the Grand Tour.
From the 18th century onwards, the great English estates (such as Chiswick House and Stowe) adopted this French-inspired motif to adorn the transitions between terraces and the paths in their gardens.
In the 1830s, the London-based sculptor and industrialist Felix Austin established himself as the principal rival and successor to the famous Coade Stone factory. Based in Regent’s Park, Austin developed a refined formula for architectural terracotta and artificial stone with a sandstone finish, capable of withstanding frost perfectly whilst offering a texture as fine as that of carved stone. A few years later, he joined forces with the landscape architect Robert Seeley to form the renowned firm Austin & Seeley.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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