STONEWORK

English School, mid-14th century Bust of a Crowned King

Carved limestone

A rare and finely carved medieval limestone bust depicting a crowned male figure, almost certainly representing a secular ruler or king. The figure is shown half-length in a contemplative pose, with the head resting upon the right hand and the left arm drawn across the chest. He wears a simple open crown above long, flowing hair and a bifurcated beard, the facial features rendered with restrained naturalism characteristic of English Gothic sculpture of the mid-14th century.

The carving displays confident and economical toolwork, particularly in the modelling of the hair, beard, and facial planes, with softened contours and surface wear consistent with age and original architectural placement. The limestone retains an even, natural patination, with minor losses and abrasions commensurate with its age, and no evidence of later reworking or restoration.

Busts of secular rulers from medieval England are exceptionally rare survivals. The present sculpture was almost certainly conceived as part of a larger architectural or sculptural programme—possibly from an ecclesiastical or royal context—rather than as an independent work. While the facial type and period have traditionally prompted comparison with representations of Edward III (1312–1377), no inscription or heraldic attributes survive to permit a secure identification, and the figure is therefore best understood as an idealised image of kingship from 14th-century England.

Provenance:
English private collection; thence by descent to a private French collection.
 

Dimensions
28 cms High (10.9 inches)
25 cms Wide (9.8 inches)


Stock No.: 1757
Price on application

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