30th Jul, 2024 10:00
Out of the Ordinary
270
A Parian ware figure attributed to Minton
late 19th century, depicting two post-mortem sleeping/dead children lying on a bed, based on a marble sculpture by Sir Francis Chantrey (1781-1841), impressed marks,
13cm wide
23cm deep
11cm high
Considered to be one of Chantrey's finest pieces, the original Sleeping Children statue can be found in Lichfield Cathedral. It was commissioned by Ellen Jane Robinson, the mother of Ellen Jane and Marianne who died in 1813 and 1814 respectively, and depicts the two girls lying asleep on a bed in each other's arms.
The tragic story behind the scene began when the children's father, Rev William Robinson of Lichfield, contracted tuberculosis and died. Shortly after, whilst Ellen Jane and her two daughters were on a trip to Bath, her eldest daughter's nightdress caught fire as she prepared for bed, and she was fatally burned. Just the following year, whilst in London, the youngest daughter, Marianne, became very ill and also died.
Within just three years, Ellen Jane had lost her entire family and, terribly bereaved, she contacted Chantrey to secure the likeness of her children. Universally admired, it is considered to be one of the greatest works of English sculpture from the period, and was so popular on completion that it was reported that 'there was no getting near them; mothers, with tears in their eyes, lingered, and went away, and returned', and small replicas of it were sold.
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A selection of lots from our Life after Death category featured in our 30 July Out of the Ordinary Sale.
Sold for £140
Condition Report
chips to base and chips to toes
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Auction: Out of the Ordinary, 30th Jul, 2024
Viewing
Stansted Viewing | Auction
Viewing will be held at our Stansted Auction Rooms, Cambridge Road, Stansted Mountfitchet CM24 8GE, as follows:
Friday 26 July, 10am - 4pm
Sunday 28 July, 10am - 1pm
Monday 29 July, 10am - 4pm
The auction will take place at our Stansted Auction Rooms, Cambridge Road, Stansted Mountfitchet CM24 8GE.
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