Lucy Kinsella – Jack Russell Terrier On Hind Quarters, No. 1/50 Bronze

Lucy Kinsella – Jack Russell Terrier On Hind Quarters, No. 1/50 Bronze

The First Numbered Cast From an Edition of Fifty

Highlights

• Original patinated bronze by British sculptor Lucy Kinsella

• Titled Jack Russell Terrier On Hind Quarters

• Numbered 1/50 — the first numbered cast from the stated edition of 50

• Signed within the casting

• Circa 1990s

• Expressive Jack Russell standing upright upon its hind quarters

• Superb characterful animalier modelling

• Rich chocolate-brown and dark patination with warmer bronze highlights

• Intimate 12 cm table-top scale

• Documented Moore Allen & Innocent auction provenance

• Auctioned at Cirencester, 20 June 2024, Lot 200

• Subsequently acquired and curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®

• Supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution from Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®

Introduction

An engaging and highly characterful patinated bronze by British animal sculptor Lucy Kinsella (b. 1960), depicting a Jack Russell Terrier captured in the wonderfully animated pose of standing upright upon its hind quarters.

Titled Jack Russell Terrier On Hind Quarters, the sculpture is signed within the casting and numbered 1/50, identifying this example as the first numbered cast within the stated edition of fifty.

The work benefits from documented auction provenance, having appeared as Lot 200 in the Vintage & Antique Sale held by Moore Allen & Innocent, Cirencester, on 20 June 2024. The auction house catalogued the work as a “chocolate patinated bronze”, signed within the casting and numbered 1/50.

The terrier's alert expression, raised ears and playful stance give the sculpture considerable personality despite its intimate dimensions. Kinsella's expressive treatment of the surface further contributes to the impression of movement and character for which her animalier sculpture is particularly admired.

In our opinion, this is a particularly fine and appealing example of the artist's small-scale animal sculpture.

Catalogue Details

Artist: Lucy Kinsella (British, born 1960)

Title: Jack Russell Terrier On Hind Quarters

Date: Circa 1990s

Medium: Patinated bronze

Patination: Chocolate-brown and dark patination with warmer bronze highlights

Subject: Jack Russell Terrier

Edition: Numbered 1/50 — the first numbered cast from the stated edition of 50

Signature: Signed within the casting

Period: Late 20th century

School: British

Classification: Animalier sculpture

Auction Reference: Moore Allen & Innocent, Cirencester, Vintage & Antique Sale, 20 June 2024, Lot 200

Catalogue Note

The distinctive pose is central to the sculpture's considerable charm.

Kinsella has modelled the Jack Russell balanced upright upon its hind quarters, with its forepaws raised, ears alert and expression attentive. The unconventional stance creates an immediately engaging silhouette while conveying the inquisitive energy, intelligence and playful temperament associated with the breed.

Close examination reveals the artist's vigorous modelling of the bronze surface. Textured passages throughout the body contrast with smoother raised areas, giving the sculpture considerable visual and tactile character.

The patination is especially attractive. Moore Allen & Innocent described the work at auction as a “chocolate patinated bronze”, an appropriate description of its predominant warm dark-brown surface. This is complemented by deeper near-black passages, selectively exposed warmer bronze highlights and subtle tonal variation within the modelled recesses.

Of particular collector interest, this bronze is numbered 1/50, identifying it as the first numbered cast within the stated edition of fifty. Its position at the beginning of the numbered edition provides an especially appealing feature of this particular example.

At just 12 cm high, the sculpture possesses an intimate cabinet-scale quality while retaining considerable sculptural presence, making it particularly well suited to a collection of British sculpture, animalier bronzes, sporting art or canine subjects.

The Artist

Lucy Kinsella is a British Post-War and Contemporary sculptor, born in Hampshire in 1960, whose artistic practice has become particularly associated with expressive animal sculpture.

Her interest in animals developed during childhood through close observation and drawing. This affinity with the natural world would ultimately become the defining subject of her sculptural career.

After initially considering a career connected with farming and subsequently spending time pursuing business life in London, Kinsella recognised that her natural direction lay in art. She undertook formal artistic training and studied sculpture at Loughborough University.

Following her studies, Kinsella established her own sculptural practice and increasingly specialised in animals.

Her work is characterised by an ability to communicate the individual temperament of a subject through movement, pose and gesture. Rather than concentrating solely upon anatomical accuracy, Kinsella seeks to capture the essential character and personality of the animal.

Her creative process involves close observation and preparatory drawing before the development of sculptural models. Smaller sculptures may be developed in wax over an armature, allowing the artist to explore movement and composition before settling upon a final design. Larger works can be modelled in clay over a constructed framework before moulding and casting.

Bronze has become an important medium within her practice, and carefully considered patination contributes substantially to the finished character of her sculpture. These surface treatments provide depth and tonal variation while emphasising the expressive modelling beneath.

Kinsella's work encompasses intimate table-top bronzes as well as larger sculptural compositions, with her animal subjects appealing to collectors both in Britain and internationally.

Provenance

Moore Allen & Innocent, Cirencester, Vintage & Antique Sale, 20 June 2024, Lot 200, where catalogued as Lucy Kinsella (b. 1960), Jack Russell terrier on hind quarters, a chocolate patinated bronze, signed within the casting and numbered 1/50, 12 cm high.

Acquired following the above sale and subsequently curated into the collection of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®.

The surviving auction documentation provides an identifiable documentary provenance for the sculpture and independently records its artist, subject, medium, signature, edition number and height.

Dimensions

Height: 12 cm

Width: 7.9 cm

Depth: 5 cm

Condition Report

Offered in fine used condition.

The sculpture displays minor general wear and occasional surface scuffs consistent with its age, previous ownership and handling.

The bronze retains an attractive and naturally varied patination, with chocolate-brown, deep brown and near-black passages complemented by warmer bronze highlights and subtle tonal variation across the modelled surface.

These variations contribute to the individual character of the bronze and form part of its naturally aged and patinated appearance.

The photographs should be examined in conjunction with this report as they form an integral part of the condition assessment.

Shipping

Professional worldwide shipping is available.

The sculpture will be carefully packed using appropriate protective materials to ensure safe transit. International collectors are welcome, with shipping options arranged according to destination.

We provide professional, client-focused service throughout the purchasing and delivery process.

Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution

The artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, recording the artwork’s catalogue details, attribution, provenance as stated, and details of the sale. This document accompanies the work as part of its ongoing ownership and provenance record.

Attribution and Research

The historical observations, provenance research, attribution analysis and contextual commentary presented within this catalogue entry represent the professional opinion of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. They are offered in good faith as informed scholarly assessments based upon the available evidence, comparative research, published reference material and our experience within the international fine art market.

These observations should be understood as professional opinions rather than definitive statements of fact or guarantees of authorship, attribution, date, origin, provenance or historical interpretation. As with all historic works of art, future documentary discoveries, technical examination, conservation analysis 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.