19th-century R&L Parian bisque portrait bust of Thomas Carlyle For Sale

19th-century Parian bisque portrait bust of Thomas Carlyle

The bust depicts Thomas Carlyle in a double-breasted coat with a wide lapel, the drapery and tailoring crisply modeled. His likeness features a full beard, deep-set eyes, and wavy, swept-back hair characteristic of period portraiture. His name is molded into the front of the socle base. The bust is signed R&L inside an oval on the back left shoulder. Robinson & Leadbeater was a renowned British pottery firm based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England. The mark is consistent with production between 1885–1904.

Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) was a Scottish essayist, historian, and social critic widely regarded as one of the most influential thinkers of the Victorian era. Best known for works such as The French Revolution: A History and On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History, Carlyle’s writing shaped Victorian views on history, society, and leadership, and he remained a towering literary figure throughout the 19th century. Carlyle’s towering reputation as a historian and social critic made him a natural subject for R&L, who produced portrait busts of leading literary and intellectual figures.

Measurements:

Height 7 3/4 inches
Width 4 1/2 inches
Projection 3 1/4 inches

Overall condition:Very good condition. Small separation/indentation at corner on socle. See photos for details as they are part of the description.