A PAIR OF DERBYSHIRE CARVED MODELS OF A BULL AND A COW, EARLY 19TH CENTURY

A PAIR OF DERBYSHIRE CARVED MODELS OF A BULL AND A COW EARLY 19TH CENTURY Probably Derbyshire alabaster or similar hardstone, mounted on Black Ashford marble and attributed to either John Mawe or Joseph Hall each base 47.5cm wide, 25cm deep, taller 13cm high John Mawe (1764-1829) was a mineralogist who transmuted his knowledge into a lifetime and successful business selling carved ornaments, mostly utilising native English stones and minerals. Apprenticed to the Derby mason Richard Brown, he went on to set up business with him in Covent Garden before marrying his daughter Sarah. He went on to travel the world seeking new specimens for his collectors, writing books and treatises on travels in South America (where he was arrested as a spy), and other works on diamonds, shells and mineral categorisation. For a similar example of a Derbyshire figure of 'The Bull Sultan' with label for Sarah Mawe, please see Dreweatts, Interiors Sale 16 August 2023, lot 222 Condition Report: Overall marks, knocks, scratches, abrasions consistent with age and useChips and losses, knocks, some elements detached and missing form the lot, the cow with a section detached to the front leg, this element is present. The horns are missing overall, some of these are old losses, some look more recent (but not new)These are made from a natural material, the cow with various veins and associated indentations associated with the natural nature of the material The cow loose on the base and swivels, there are some marks from this, the bull appears more solid on the baseThe black bases with chips and losses to the extremities and cornersPlease see additional images for visual reference to condition and appearance of these modelsCondition Report Disclaimer