Creel and Gow

A charming bust of a child’s head by Edwin Whitney-Smith, dated 1910, the girl has her head slightly tilted forwards as she looks out from under a lock of hair, set on a square block signed on the reverse ‘E Whitney-Smith 1910’. This bronze is a reduction of Whitney-Smith’s original marble piece, a photograph of which survives in the V&A (object number AAD/1990/12/63). Another version can be seen in a 1920s photograph of the artist in his studio owned by the National Portrait Gallery (NPG x194201). Neither the identity of the sitter nor title of the work is known. Edwin Whitney-Smith (1880-1952) was one of the pre-eminent sculptors of his day. Born in Bristol in 1880, he became a student of William Harbutt, the headmaster of Bath School of Art, best remembered today for inventing plasticine. Whitney-Smith showed great promise from an early age, opening a studio in St John’s Wood, London, in 1910. He exhibited over 40 pieces at the Royal Academy and despite not achieving Academician status, even with list of illustrious proposers, he became a dear friend of Sir Alfred Munnings, the famous horse painter, and sculpted his portrait. He was, however, elected to the Royal Society of British Sculptors and his works were generally well-received by critics and the general public alike. Aside from the RA, he exhibited in Bristol, at the Paris Salon and the Scottish Academy and his work attracted the attention of such important patrons as the Courtauld family. One of his most famous works, The Waking Child, is in the Ferens Art Gallery in Hull and another, The Irishman, is in the Tate. One version of his bust of Ernest Bevin, the trade unionist, stands in Tooley Street in Bermondsey to this day. An article in The Sphere, published on the 3rd of May 1924, referred to the sculptor as “a well-known sculptor of smiling children” and mentioned his “famous babies’ heads”.

A very nice Italian Art Deco chandelier, circa 1920. Entirely hand-wrought and gilt iron with spiral scroll work accents. Six arms support each candelabra socket with cover in a star...

Curtis Jere Starburst wall sculpture / Signed & dated.

1960s Italian mid-century modern sculptural Murano glass fish of exquisite craftmanship, attributed to Archimede Seguso. It is realized using the Sommerso technique, a crystal clear ...

Miniature pair of vintage turquoise glazed ceramic Foo Dogs - molded forms - hand painted glossy glaze - unsigned - China - circa 1980's. Excellent vintage condition - minor glaze...

West African hand beaded head dress crown from Yoruba, Nigeria. This artistic beautiful and functional art piece is covered with beads in ivory, red and black colors with faces bird...

An English barley twist bench from circa 1920 with custom linen upholstery. This English barley twist bench, hailing from circa 1920, seamlessly blends traditional craftsmanship with...

A charming bench from hungary with the original paint. Over time and use, the black paint has been worn away in places to the wood. The bench is stable and sturdy. Free of woodworm.

This country wooden bench brings a familiar warmth to any place. Its carved contours and accents were made to keep ornamentation simple, inviting, and unpretentious. The wood grain a...

This exceptional 1920s French Art Deco chandelier features a beautiful crimson and sunflower colored glass shade, connected to an etch...

Large openwork crest mounted upon a woven basketry cap. The large, square decorative panel bears a central reptilian or stylized crocodile depiction with alternating squared painted ...

A beautiful wall hanging sculpture designed by Curtis Jere and produced by Artisan House in the early 1980s. This features an abstract branch form wi...