Enzo Plazzotta Galloping Horse Bronze Sculpture, Edition 6 of 9
Enzo Plazzotta (Italian-British, 1921–1981)
Galloping Horse, circa 1970
Signed Patinated Bronze | Limited Edition Number 6 of 9 | Meridian Bronze Foundry
Highlights
• An original limited-edition equestrian bronze by Enzo Plazzotta.
• Numbered 6 from a restricted edition of 9 casts.
• Signed with the Plazzotta stamp upon the integral bronze base.
• Bears the MB foundry mark associated with Meridian Bronze.
• Captures the airborne suspension phase of a horse at full gallop.
• Finished with a rich dark brown patina.
• Supported by an oval bronze base and contrasting black slate plinth.
• An impressive 63 cm long and weighing approximately 21.55 kg.
• Acquired through Gorringes Auctioneers.
• Privately loaned and exhibited at the Famous Lord Hill Museum.
• A commanding example of modern British equestrian sculpture.
Introduction
Galloping Horse is a dynamic limited-edition bronze by Enzo Plazzotta, an artist celebrated for his ability to express movement, balance and physical tension through sculpture.
This example is numbered 6 from an edition of 9 and bears both the Plazzotta stamp and the MB foundry mark associated with Meridian Bronze.
Plazzotta freezes the horse during the suspension phase of its gallop. With the body extended, head lowered and limbs projected through space, the sculpture communicates exceptional speed and forward momentum while remaining carefully balanced upon its base.
Catalogue Details
Artist: Enzo Plazzotta (Italian-British, 1921–1981)
Title: Galloping Horse
Date: Circa 1970, according to current catalogue records
Medium: Bronze with dark brown patina
Edition: 6 of 9
Artist’s mark: Stamped “Plazzotta”
Foundry: Meridian Bronze, identified by the MB mark
Subject: Galloping horse
Base: Integral oval bronze base
Plinth: Attached slim black slate plinth
Weight: Approximately 21.55 kg
Catalogue Note
Plazzotta selects one of the most visually compelling phases of equine movement: the instant at which the horse’s body is suspended entirely above the ground.
The torso leans forward and extends across the horizontal axis, creating an immediate sensation of propulsion. The forelegs reach ahead while the hindquarters retain the compressed power responsible for driving the horse forward.
Despite the apparent speed, the sculpture remains controlled. Each movement is carefully counterbalanced, producing a dynamic equilibrium between physical force and formal stability.
The head is held low, giving the horse a sense of concentration and intent. Subtle anatomical modelling across the neck and shoulders reinforces the animal’s strength, while the extended body conveys athleticism and freedom.
Plazzotta’s tactile treatment of the bronze is integral to the effect. Highlights catch the raised areas of the modelling, while deeper shadows gather within the textured surface. The appearance consequently changes according to the direction and intensity of the surrounding light.
The oval bronze base has an organic quality that complements the horse, while the slim black slate plinth provides visual contrast and architectural stability.
The Artist
Enzo Plazzotta was born in Mestre, near Venice, in 1921. He later settled in London, where he developed a successful international career and became closely associated with 20th-century British sculpture.
His artistic education included studying sculpture with Giacomo Manzù and architecture at the Politecnico di Milano. These combined disciplines contributed to his sophisticated understanding of anatomy, structure and three-dimensional balance.
Plazzotta became particularly admired for sculptures of dancers, horses and the human figure. He repeatedly explored poses in which the body appears to move beyond the physical limitations of bronze.
His ballet sculptures capture dancers during leaps, extensions and transitional movements. His horses are similarly animated, with carefully observed musculature and posture used to suggest speed, vitality and emotional presence.
Plazzotta maintained a studio in Pietrasanta, Italy, from 1967, enabling him to supervise the production of bronze casts while continuing his professional career in London.
His important public works include:
• Camargue Horses at the Barbican Centre
• The Crucifixion in the College Garden of Westminster Abbey
• Homage to Leonardo in Belgrave Square
• Jeté on Millbank
• Young Dancer opposite the Royal Opera House
• The Helmet at Lewes Priory
His sculptures are represented in recognised public and private collections, including the National Portrait Gallery and the University of Dundee Art Collection.
Form and Movement
Galloping Horse exemplifies Plazzotta’s sustained interest in the relationship between movement and balance.
The sculpture does not merely illustrate the appearance of a horse. It reconstructs the physical sensation of acceleration: muscular contraction, forward projection, temporary suspension and the anticipation of the next stride.
By isolating this fractional moment and fixing it permanently in bronze, Plazzotta creates a compelling tension between stillness and motion.
The horse appears simultaneously weighty and airborne—firmly modelled as a substantial bronze form yet visually liberated from the ground beneath it.
Casting and Edition
This example is inscribed 6/9, identifying it as the sixth cast within an edition of nine.
The integral bronze base bears the artist’s Plazzotta stamp and an MB foundry mark associated with Meridian Bronze.
Established in Greenwich in 1967 by Jack and Megan Crofton, Meridian Bronze became an important British foundry and produced documented casts for Plazzotta and other modern sculptors.
The bronze retains a deep brown patina with subtle variations in colour and tone. These variations complement the textured modelling and enrich the sculpture’s appearance under changing light.
Provenance
Private collection.
Gorringes Auctioneers, Lewes, East Sussex.
Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®.
Subsequently privately loaned and exhibited at the Famous Lord Hill Museum.
Dimensions
Overall length:
63 cm
Overall height:
38.8 cm
Base:
38 cm long × 28.5 cm wide × 2 cm high
Weight:
Approximately 21.55 kg
All dimensions and weights are approximate.
Condition Report
The bronze is preserved in very good overall condition.
Its dark brown patina remains rich and consistent, displaying attractive tonal variation across the modelled surface.
There are no visible cracks, breaks or structural concerns. No evidence of previous restoration or repair has been identified.
Minor surface wear is present in places, consistent with age, handling and previous display.
The integral bronze base and attached black slate plinth remain stable and secure. The artist’s stamp, edition number and foundry mark are all clearly defined.
The accompanying photographs form an important part of the condition assessment. Additional photographs and further information are available upon request.
Shipping
Worldwide shipping is available.
Given the sculpture’s size and weight, it will be professionally packed or crated as required and fully insured for delivery.
Please contact us for a tailored international shipping quotation or to arrange collection.
Attribution & Research Notice
The artist identification, title, edition information, foundry interpretation, dating, provenance research and contextual commentary presented within this catalogue entry represent the professional, non-guaranteed opinion of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. They are offered in good faith as informed scholarly assessments based upon the visible artist’s stamp, edition number, foundry mark, established auction cataloguing, available provenance, comparative research, published reference material and professional experience within the international fine art market.
The MB foundry stamp is identified as the mark of Meridian Bronze through comparison with documented bronze casts by Plazzotta. The circa 1970 date follows available catalogue and art-market records. It should not be interpreted as a guarantee that this particular cast was produced during that exact calendar year. As with all works of art, future documentary discoveries, technical examination or advances in academic research may refine, expand or revise current interpretations.
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®
Specialising in carefully curated British and European fine art, antiques and historic works of art.Every artwork is professionally researched and catalogued using comparative scholarship, published reference material and more than two decades of experience within the international fine art market. We are committed to offering collectors works of artistic and historical merit accompanied by transparent provenance research, detailed catalogue descriptions and professional, client-focused service.
Additional photographs and further information are available upon request.
