Mandane & Artabanes

Stock No: 001048

Height:  Inches 13 / 33 cm

Reference: Harding Second Addendum, Page 91, Fig 1228/1229

A fine true pair of standing figures, one of Mandane and the other Artabanes, probably characters from the opera ‘Artaxerxes’. She holds a stringed instrument in her left hand, her right is across her waist, wearing a turban, ermine edged cloak, long dress, and pantaloons, with a sash tied around her waist. He holds a dagger in his right hand and wears a turban, ermine edged cloak, long dress tied at the waist with a sash, pantaloons, and pointed toed shoes. The blade of the dagger in this figure has been moulded separately. These very rare figures can be found with either a round gilt lined base, or an uneven rockwork base decorated with or without tufts of grass; they are always well modelled in the round and usually extremely well decorated. Anthony Oliver suggested they were made by John and Rebecca Lloyd of Shelton, having seen a similar pair with a Lloyd name stamp to the underside. These are not marked. A truly astonishing and remarkable pair c1836.