Weekend Elephant #4 The Result!

This weekend's London elephant is probably passed by more people each day than any other. It took until Sunday morning though for one reader to correctly identify it. Congratulations to Helene from Brixton for not only supplying the location but also the sculptor.

Asia - Henry Hugh Armstead

The elephant comes from the Asia spandrel on the Whitehall frontage of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (formerly the Foreign, India, Colonial, and Home Offices). All the continents were carved by Henry Hugh Armstead for the building's architect George Gilbert Scott.

Africa - Henry Hugh Armstead

America - Henry Hugh Armstead

Australasia - Henry Hugh Armstead

Europe - Henry Hugh Armstead

Henry Hugh Armstead (1828 –1905) also provided large-scale sculptures for the Palace of Westminster and over 80 figures for Scott's Albert Memorial, but my favourite work of his in London is on a far smaller scale.

Prior to the building of the Albert Memorial, George Gilbert Scott commissioned a scale model, this is now in the Victoria and Albert museum. For the model Armstead provided all of the miniature sculptures. Scott was so pleased with Armstead's work that he wrote ‘I doubt whether either the central figure or a single group, as executed, is superior to the miniature models furnished by Mr Armstead’.

On a different note, sharp-eyed readers may have noticed the swastika patterns surrounding each sculpture. The building dates from 1861-1875, well before the ancient symbol became associated with the Nazis. There are many other innocent uses of the symbol in London. A recent article, and reader comments, on the excellent Great Wen blog describe these and also investigate the rumour of Nazi swastika just off The Mall.

Horses Tucked Up in Bruton Place

Above the entrance to Bellamy's Restaurant, in the former mews of Bruton Place, are these carved brick horse's heads.

They are a fine example of carving in brick and also a good example of Tuck Pointing. Now until recently I had no idea what tuck pointing was, a friend explained it to me and now I see examples everywhere. Nearby in Berkeley Square the whole frontage of number 55 is tuck pointed.

The expensive technique of tuck pointing developed in the late 17th Century and became common throughout the 18th and early 19th Centuries. The aim was to give the illusion of perfect brickwork, or sometimes to disguise inferior quality work and materials.

In tuck pointing a regular wall, built with lime mortar, such as the one above is first smoothed. Then a v-shaped groove is cut between the joints. Finally a ribbon of lime putty is placed into the grooves and cut with precision to make all the joints appear perfectly regular. Such a laborious process was reserved for the façades of the most prestigious addresses.

There are numerous examples of tuck pointing throughout London but there are very few specialist companies able to maintain or restore such  facades using this traditional technique. One such expert is Dr Gerard Lynch aka The Red Mason! His website has a lot more detail on this interesting technique. There is also an excellent guide from Historic Brick Pointing available as a pdf here.

Horse's Head Found in Mount Street Gardens

Yesterday morning this new sculpture was delivered to Mount Street Gardens in Mayfair.

It is Fire by Nic Fiddian-Green, the sculptor who also brought us Marwari - Horse at Water at Marble Arch. More on this artist, who has been producing monumental horse's heads for over 25 years, from his website here.

Another of his works is currently outside the Sladmore Gallery in Bruton Place where he has an exhibition running until the 26th August. Details from the gallery here.

The Mount Street Gardens head is the latest piece in Westminster City Council's excellent City of Sculpture initiative.

The programme has so far delivered the temporary public display of major sculptures such as Jelly Baby Family, by Mauro Perruchetti, Vroom Vroom and Force of Nature II by Lorenzo Quinn and Core Femme by Jill Berelowitz as well as the Bruce Denny group in Soho Square.

All these, and many more are planned, have been installed at zero cost to the council. All the costs associated with installing and insuring each work have been met by the participating galleries and patrons.

See the City of Sculpture label below for links to related posts.