Statues - Hither & Thither

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Bath
Somerset
South West England

Royal Avenue

Two Sphinxes

Charles Reeves
1833

Description

Two stone sphinxes, placed on the gates at the western end of Royal Avenue.

Bath - Two Sphinxes

The Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette reports in 1833:

The ornamental features of the Park have been augmented by two splendid pieces of sculpture which grace the Western entrance of the River's Estate, a pair of Sphinxes; one of them the gift of Isaac Williams, esq; the other presented by Mr. Reeves, of Charles street, - a richly carved classic Vase, the donation of Mr. E. Hancock, forms also another embellishment worthy of notice.

'Reeves' was the most prominent firm of monumental masons (tombstone carvers) in Bath. They flourished from c. 1778 to the 1860s. It can be assumed that they made both sphinxes.

Inscription(s)

On the base:

the gift of m^r reeves.
and
given by i. williams, esq.^r

Sculptor

Charles Reeves. The Reeves firm was the most prominent firm of monumental masons (tombstone carvers) in Bath, Somerset. They flourished from c. 1778 to the 1860s (Wikipedia).

Sources & Information

Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, Thursday 25 April 1833 (British Newspaper Archive).
Historic England, Database.

Locatie (N 51°23'8" - W 2°22'13") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: gbsw088; Photograph: 22 March 2019
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
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© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

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