Figure of the Day: Queen Mary II , 1695

Model of Queen Mary II
John Nost
Terracotta, 1695
The Victoria & Albert Museum

This statuette of painted terracotta depicts Queen Mary II, consort-of and co-regent with King William III, holding an orb and sceptre and looking towards her left. The Queen wears her crown and bejeweled dress ( and presumably her coronation robes). This figure was a model for a full-size statue which has since been lost, following the fire at the Exchange of 1838.

The 1695 sculpture is the work of John Nost, a native of Malines in The Netherlands, who was first recorded in England around 1678, working at Windsor Castle under Hugh May. Notably, Nost specialized in lead figures, though he also worked in other materials, such as assorted stones and terracotta. A popular artist of the Seventeenth Century, Nost was commissioned to make a numerous lead garden figures for great houses and palaces, including Castle Howard and Hampton Court Palace.

Sculpture of the Day: St. George, a Model, 1895

Model Study for a figure of St. George
The beginnings of "the dragon" can be seen around the wooden base.
SIr Alfred GIlbert, 1895
The Victoria & Albert Museum

The “New Sculpture” movement of the late Nineteenth Century called for a focus on naturalistic forms and urged sculptors to experiment with new media. Perhaps the most eager of those sculptors who supported the movement was Sir Alfred Gilbert who seems to have had a fascination with the theme of St. George and the Dragon.

This model was made of wax and plasticine as a suggestion for a sculpture group of St. George and the Dragon which was to surmount the silver Rose-water Ewer and Dish which was presented to King George V (while still Duke of York) upon his marriage to Princess May of Teck (later Queen mary) in 1896. We’ll be taking a look at the Rose-water set later I nthe week. 

The figures mated to the finished Rose-water set don’t exactly match these earlier models and studies, so, we can see that Gilbert altered the sculptures considerably. A perfectionist, Gilbert (1854-1934), was also known as a medallist, goldsmith and draftsman. He took these commissions quite seriously and strove to be a fitting representative for the “New Sculpture” Movement. 

The Art of Play: A Model Butcher Shop, c. 1900

Click image to pick your cutlet.Model Butcher Shop
Christian Hacker, 1900
The Victoria & Albert Museum

For as long as humans have had toys, many of them have been made to not only be fun, but to be educational. Toy models were especially instructional. This one, for example, is a model butcher shop with over twenty removable pieces. It was probably made to teach children about different cuts of meat. While I can’t imagine such a toy today, when it was made in 1900, it was actually quite useful. There’s even wild boar in there. 

The toy was made by Christian Hacker—a German toymaker who specialized in doll houses and other model sets like this one. Since the text is in English, we can conclude that the model was made for export to the U.K.

Figure of the Day: Queen Mary II , 1695

Model of Queen Mary II
John Nost
Terracotta, 1695
The Victoria & Albert Museum

This statuette of painted terracotta depicts Queen Mary II, consort-of and co-regent with King William III, holding an orb and sceptre and looking towards her left. The Queen wears her crown and bejeweled dress ( and presumably her coronation robes). This figure was a model for a full-size statue which has since been lost, following the fire at the Exchange of 1838.

The 1695 sculpture is the work of John Nost, a native of Malines in The Netherlands, who was first recorded in England around 1678, working at Windsor Castle under Hugh May. Notably, Nost specialized in lead figures, though he also worked in other materials, such as assorted stones and terracotta. A popular artist of the Seventeenth Century, Nost was commissioned to make a numerous lead garden figures for great houses and palaces, including Castle Howard and Hampton Court Palace.

Object of the Day, Museum Edition: The Harry Page, 1925

The Harry Page
Poole Pottery, 1925
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Let’s look at some ships, today.  Shall we?  Admittedly, I’m not well-versed in naval things.  So, this will be a learning experience.  Besides that, I’m using it as an excuse to post a Popeye cartoon as the “Sunday Morning Special.”  I won’t fool you.  We all know I like Popeye.  I think, actually, Popeye would have liked this model himself.

This is a model of a ship called The “Harry Page” in tin-glazed earthenware, molded as a galleon with spread sails, and comprised of red clay with white slip and blue, celadon and yellow glazes.

It was made in Poole, England around 1925 by modeler Harold Stabler (1872-1945).  Stabler—that sounds like a name from a Popeye cartoon, actually.  “Gonna fights the Stabler, Olive.  He took Alice the Goon to Stabler Island.”  And, then the Stabler would turn out to be Bluto and wacky, big-forearm-ed, spinach-induced violence would ensue.  “A-yuk-ka-ka-ka.”

I’m quite off-topic.

The model was used as the heading for the 'della Robbia' sign which was displayed outside of the Poole Pottery.  The piece was formerly in the collection of Sir Edward and Lady Maude at Shepherds Hill, Buxted.