Doe and Hope

Description

The large and well carved decorative fine marble bust of a negress shown three quarter length, her head long since absent, wearing a toga shawl on a tapered plinth, the whole on a later green mottled marble socle base survives from the middle of nineteenth century Europe.

Considering the age, this heavy piece is in good structural condition and the statue itself does not suffer from any chips. The base has one chip to it. She is stable on the stand.

The contrast between the black and white marble on this example is very striking and the shape of the bust is imposing yet elegant and particularly well proportioned. The lack of a head gives the piece an arresting aesthetic. The later stepped socle base is of super quality also and is in total keeping with the bust itself.

Marble has always been a luxury stone and its reuse was ornamental not expedient and even in Italy it had to be obtained secondhand.

Making a prominent statement this is a high quality decorator’s piece.