Alfred Lyndhurst Pocock Furniture

FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING AN ENGLISH FABERGÉ-LINKED SCULPTOR’S ARCTIC MASTERPIECE IN STONE From our Sculpture Collection, an exceptional early 20th-century white onyx carving of a polar bear by Alfred Lyndhurst Pocock (1882–1962), the only English sculptor known to have worked with the House of Fabergé. The bear is masterfully rendered in motion, its stance caught mid-prowl with a naturalistic sense of power and weight. The finely carved surface is hand-chiselled to simulate fur, while cabochon ruby eyes bring sharp life to the piece. It stands upon a rock crystal base, carved to resemble Arctic ice, echoing Pocock’s focus on geological realism and material harmony. Dated circa 1920, this work reflects Pocock’s independent output following his earlier collaboration with Fabergé, where his animal wax models were translated into hardstone by the firm’s Russian lapidaries. Pieces by Pocock remain extremely scarce and are held in major collections. A museum-quality example of English hard stone sculpture with a direct link to the golden age of Fabergé. PROVENANCE This sculpture was owned by the family of Percy and Winifred Bottley. The Bottleys operated the renowned gem dealership Gregory & Bottley from the 1930s (later known as Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd), and supplied Alfred Lyndhurst Pocock with gemstones for his carvings. Upon Pocock’s death, he bequeathed this piece to the couple as part of his personal collection. LITERATURE Please see the Royal Collection Trust reference RCIN 40268 - Queen Alexandra's Pekingese by Pocock and Fabergé's Animals: A Royal Farm in Miniature for reference to Alfred Lyndhurst Pocock. ALFRED LYNDHURST POCOCK (1881-1962) Worked for the London branch of Fabergé as well as working independently. He won a scholarship to the Royal Academy Schools in 1903 where he studied from 27 January 1903 to January 1906 and began working for Fabergé in 1905. The RA had recommended Pocock when the company’s European manager, Henry Charles Bainbridge needed some wax models of animals for Queen Alexandra, these were sent to Russia for carving in semi-precious stone. The models by Pocock pleased Queen Alexandra and later her royal highness acquired gem carvings from Pocock. According to Bainbridge’s book 'Peter Carl Fabergé: Goldsmith and Jeweller to the Russian Imperial Court - His Life and Work (first published in 1949), Pocock was one of the sculptors who worked at Sandringham in 1907 alongside Boris Frodman-Cluzel and Frank Lutiger on Fabergé items...