Architectural Heritage

An early 18th Century lead figure of a dancing girl (c. 1700 England)

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Lead

Peelings Manor, East Sussex.

Condition – The surface of the lead shows some oxidisation of iron and the body has taken a number of ‘pot shots’ from air rifle marksmen! And a small seepage of iron deposits is in evidence on one of the ankles which relates to corrosion of the iron armature embedded within the core, however currently this is currently in a stable condition.

An early 18th Century lead figure of a dancing girl with cymbals from the workshops of John van Nost the Elder (1686-1711-1713), previously thought to be 1729. The disputed death date of John van Nost, is an example of the grey areas that surround early lead ornament. The question of authentication of early English lead work is fraught with difficulty. This model of a dancing putto could relate to van Nost’s Master, one Arnold Quellin (1653-1686), whose wife, on his passing, van Nost married, and indeed this work notwithstanding the possible Low Countries connection to the Larson family, could have indeed been modelled and cast by Andrew Carpenter (1677-1737), he being principal assistant at van Nost’s workshops in London’s Haymarket.

It is then confusing, also possible, that this work could be a later casting from an early mould by ‘the man at Hyde Park Corner’ John Cheere (1709-1787) who took over van Nost’s business and moulds upon van Nost’s death. All this said, it is most likely that the stylistic similarities to the fighting putti at Melbourne House and the general manor of the piece points firmly towards John van Nost the Elder.

The figure shows a naked, save the ‘classic’ later applied fig leaf, putti dancing with cymbals, on tip-toe with the body in movement and her head to one side. The figure sports a hairstyle not dissimilar to other known models by Van Nost.

gbp 18000.00 (Pound Sterling)