A fine and important beautifully weathered antique English composition stone figure of the Capitoline Flora after the statue of Flora in the Capitoline Museum in Rome, by the famous London sculptors "Austin and Seeley". Flora was a much loved Greek and Roman goddess of flowers and the season of Spring, and is a popular classical figure, although it has rarely been modeled on this scale. From a Stately Home in England, mid-19th century. Restored. Antique pedestal not included (see Pedestals for details).

Felix Austin, a sculptor, started manufacturing in composition stone around the late 1820's in London. Sometime between 1836 and 1843, Austin went into partnership with another sculptor, John Seeley. The quality of their composition stone is excellent and is often mistaken for natural stone.

Austin and Seeley modeled most of their own pieces, for both of them were sculptors. They exhibited at the Great Exhibition of London in 1851. Examples of their work can be seen on the grounds of many Palaces and Stately Homes throughout Britain. They are believed to have continued production of their pieces until 1872. See the interesting article on the firm in John Davies's book "Antique Garden Ornament" [Antique Collectors Club, Woodbridge, Suffolk. 1991].

Proler Garden Antiques commissioned these beautifully carved matched set of the four muses representing the Four Seasons, after the ancient Greek originals. These young maidens are hand-carved in Italy in Vicenza Stone with free flowing drapery each carrying flowers and fruit symbolizing the Season it represents.

An English lead figure of young Bacchus holding a branch of grapes above his head and standing against a clump of flowers on a round base, semi-draped with a robe around his middle and over his right shoulder. This is a charming example of the kind of lead figure work that became popular in English gardens towards the end of the nineteenth century with the encouragement of influential garden designers of the era, such as Gertrude Jeykll and Edwin Lutyens. Bacchus was the Roman god of wine and symbolic of merriment and careless love, and has long been a popular subject for garden statuary. Circa 1885.

Antique English Cotswold stone pedestal with four stepped inset panels. Nicely weathered with lichens and mosses. Circa 1900.

Important signed terracotta figure of Venus leaning on a plinth exhibiting traces of floral decorative work and beautifully draped in classical dress with her hair bound in a ribbon. Stamped "Farnley Co". England, circa 1850.