ANTIQUE BRONZE SCULPTURE.
A PAIR OF BRONZE FIREDOGS BY
ALFRED STEVENS (1817-1875 )
English – Circa 1850-57.
For Messrs. Henry E. Hoole & Co. Sheffield.
A magnificent pair of firedogs by the great English sculptor, Alfred Stevens, in the form of two partially draped male figures, seated on ornamental socle bases, mounted on curving cast iron andirons.
Stevens studied in Italy and was for some time assistant to Bertel Thorvaldsen in Rome. Returning to England he made the Wellington Monument in Westminster Cathedral, the interior of Dorchester House and designs for the refurbishment of St Paul's. He carried out a number of works for Minton's and the Coalbrookdale Co and for the present Hoole Co. The plaster models for these firedogs are in the Victoria & Albert Museum. (See British Sculpture 1470 to 2000 by Diane Bilbey with Marjorie Trusted, V & A Publications 2002, page 366).
Height: 21” (53 cm). Width: 17” (43 cm). Depth: 38” (97 cm).