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Garden Statue Reveals Lost Art Treasure
10 Oct
Summary
- Rare marble bust of Daphne found in English garden.
- Sculpture identified as work by American artist Harriet Hosmer.
- Bust was treated as an ordinary garden ornament for over 70 years.
A routine house valuation in the Cotswolds uncovered a rare marble bust, which had been neglected in an English garden for over seven decades. The sculpture, identified as a 1854 work by Harriet Goodhue Hosmer, America's pioneering female sculptor, was unrecognized until recently.
Covered in lichen and moss, the bust of the Greek mythological figure Daphne was mistaken for a common garden ornament. Its owner believed it to be reconstituted stone. However, an inscription confirming Hosmer's name and her time in Rome, along with the quality of the carving, authenticated the piece.
Hosmer, born in 1830, defied 19th-century expectations for women, building an international reputation in sculpture. Her career was remarkable given the male-dominated art world and societal constraints on women at the time.
This particular sculpture of Daphne is exceptionally rare, with only a handful of verified marble versions known to survive, mostly housed in US museums. The discovery in England adds a significant piece to the understanding of Hosmer's early career.
Following its identification, the bust was acquired by Chorley's Auctioneers. It was initially expected to fetch up to £18,000 at auction. Despite a planned sale in September, it had not sold by the time of later reporting, with further sales anticipated.
