CIRCA 1931-38, BOTH SIGNED 'GILBERT BAYES' TO THE SIDE OF THE BASE, ONE DATED '1932', THE OTHER WITH INDISTINCT DATE

Gilbert William Bayes (1872-1953) was a renowned sculptor, forming part of the 'New Sculpture' movement. He was also celebrated for his ceramic architectural sculpture, perhaps most notably the magnificent frieze he created for Royal Doulton, which formed the centrepiece of their art deco London headquarters, which stood on the south bank of the Thames from 1939-1978. Following the sad loss of the building the frieze entered the collection of The Victoria & Albert Museum, London.

The figures in this and the preceding two lots were designed by Bayes as washing line post finials for new social housing developments built by the St. Pancras Housing Association during the 1930s as slums were cleared to the north of Euston Square. Bayes often took inspiration for his models from popular nursery rhymes and fiarytales which he hoped would have a broad appeal making his work more accessible. A small number of these figures were also commercially produced and sold as garden ornaments, however, given the evidence of mounting to the underside of the figures offered here it seems likely that they were used as originally intended. See other works by Bayes, lots 78 & 79.