This lot will be on sale on March 24th ----------------------------------------------------- Garden... Lot 47

This lot will be on sale on March 24th ----------------------------------------------------- Garden urns/planters: A rare Austin and Seeley composition stone bowl on stand, 124cm high Felix Austin went into business in 1828 having bought moulds from a firm that had gone out of business. He established works in New Road, London, describing himself variously as an architect, statuary mason and sculptor as well as artificial stone maker. His material was not the same as the ceramic body used by Mrs Coade but made from Portland cement, broken stone pounded marble and coarse sand (The Builder 1868). Around 1840 he entered into partnership with John Seeley. Seeley had trained at the Royal Academy Schools and also made an artificial stone which he called artificial limestone, before entering into partnership with Austin. In 1841 they published their first catalogue, Pleasure Grounds etc. from their address in New Road.  Similar, but not identical models  are illustrated in  this catalogue.