Elkington & Co / Benjamin Schlick Electrotype Apollo & Lyre Figure c.1840

This is a rare & early electrotype figure of Apollo seated playing the lyre, circa 1840's. Made by a collaboration between Elkington & Benjamin Schlick. Stamped to the back 'Elkington & Co Electro Dep Le Chev De Schlick Artist'. Probably inspired by frecoes from Pompeii drawn by Schlick.

Danish-born architect Benjamin Schlick was made a Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur in 1828 by the French King Charles X, in recognition of his architectural work in Paris. He seems to have attended the British court several times. He was listed in The Times among the guests at the Buckingham Palace Fancy Ball of 1842, and it was at his suggestion that the following year Prince Albert visited Elkington's Birmingham premises, where his interest in the electrotyping process was born. Schlick's relationship with George Elkington was vital to the company's production at this period. His early life, spent in the courts of France, Italy and Denmark, meant that he had access to works of art which provided invaluable source material for electrotyping. Schlick and Elkington were also firm believers in the dissemination of classical source material for the development of good taste. In 1839 Schlick had visited Italy and become one of the leading figures in the preservation and restoration of the ancient remains being uncovered at Pompeii. He made close observations and sketches and developed a pantograph to create reductions of several of the objects uncovered.

CONDITION as per images

The overall condition is as you would expect from an object of substantial age that has been displayed/handled/used, usually over the lifetimes of several owners.

DIMENSIONS

Height 26.5cm

Weight 1.52kg

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