A GROUP OF FOUR ENGLISH LEAD ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS after a design by Robert Adam late 18th / early 19th century

now mounted on boards. Losses.

Sold in these rooms October 18, 2006, lot 310

Overall fair weathered condition; unrestored; the first with marks scratches and dent so the sphinxes; wear to the forehead of the cherub mask and with dents to rim of vase with loss and wear; the plinth base bent in numerous places with dents and losses to edges; the second with wear to end of tail to left sphinx; each with chips and losses to the drapery; forehead of cherub with wear; dents and wear to vase and with losses to foot; plinth base with bending and dents; the third with dents and slight bending to vase with wear to cherub's face; plinth base bent and with dent and losses; the last with dents wear and scratches to sphinxes; the vase bent forward at socle and in need of proper restoration to bend back; plinth bent in numerous places with dents particularly to left side; in need of professional restoration. All loosely mounted on modern wood boards.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The design for these unusual lead elements is closely related to a manuscript drawing from the workshop of Robert Adam, now in the Soane Museum, London, for the proposed re-modeling of the South elevation of Ruscombe House, Berkshire, for Sir James Eyre in 1789. This shows that the house was originally built with an off-center three-bay polyagonal projection, to which Adam proposed adding a matching projection alongside, the roof level 'having a sphinx above each projection with an urn above' (David King, The Complete Works of Robert Adam, 1991, p. 393, fig. 556).  It is uncertain as to whether or not these improvements were carried out for Sir James, who lived in the house until 1799, although a book published in 1813 declares that it had been 'much improved and newly built'.  The house was demolished in 1830, and no other illustrations of it are recorded.