Antiques M.S. Rau | Wedgwood Black Basalt Lions

These Stately And Imposing Lions Each Recline On A Rectangular Base, Their Splendidly Carved Faces And Paws Rendered In Fine Detail, Their Tails Wrapped Around Their Haunches. Caught In Repose, The Lions Wear Wise, Almost Pensive Expressions, But Wedgwood’S Masterful Rendering Of Their Musculature Hints At The Power And Ferocity Of These Magnificent Creatures.

This Work Is Executed In Black Basalt, A Material Considered One Of Josiah Wedgwood’S Most Revolutionary Creations. First Developed In The 1760S, This Rich, Smooth Stoneware Was Especially Suitable For Casting And Was Used For A Myriad Of Items, Including Vases, Urns And Remarkable Sculptural Forms Such As These Lions. A Fantastic Achievement Of Artistry And Innovation, These Lions Are Incredibly Rare And Complement A Variety Of Environments.

19Th Century

Impressed Uppercase Mark

2 1/2″ Wide X 8 1/8″Deep X 4 1/2″ High

Provenance:
Property Of The Saint Louis Art Museum, No. 2190:/983 1 And 2
Skinner, Boston, 18 July 2015, Sale 2835B, Lot 647