Thomas Jolly Antiques Busts

A beautiful late 19th century gilt and patina bronze inkwell Depicting a bronze sleeping cherub lying on a gilt bronze settee, opening up to two ink holders.

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”.

PAIR OF ENGLISH STAFFORDSHIRE DOGS 19th Century Earthenware English in molded, relief and gilded ceramics. Wear on the gold. Height: 38 cm. good conditions for the time

French terracotta bust of young man resting on circular marble plinth. Signed Houdon, Late 18th century.

Emotive FRENCH Neoclassical Bust. Intentional unfinished appearance; unglazed rough texture, emphasizes the beauty and imperfection of natural forms.

19th century English diminutive Parian bust of apollo Belvedere, a well executed example, raised on a 3-inch diameter solace base. Unmarked.

Crafted of brilliant doré bronze and fine brocatelle marble, this wonderful Napoleon III-period inkwell is as functional as it is beautiful. In a style reminiscent of Louis XV Rococo...

19th century Roman bronze statue of a woman. Italian Grand Tour bronze. Mark and foundry: G. Nisini, Roma. Good dark antique patina, circa 1860-188...

An antique small bronze sculpture of a winged Sphinx, on a red "Griotte" marble plinth. The statue is quite refined, with a nice golden color and old patina. Decorative piece that a...

Beautifully painted and impressive scale Staffordshire group of a hunter riding back from the hunt with his quarry, a stag draped over the horse. The overall white glaze, except for ...

Pair of 19th century Staffordshire spaniel figures with separated front feet. This pair of dogs has wonderful hand painted copper...

19th century Italian terracotta bust of a classical male. This monumental antique Italian terracotta bust sculpture of a classical Roman male is a well executed statement piece and...