A black basalt bust of Admiral Lord Duncan, circa 1805

A black basalt bust of Admiral Lord Duncan, circa 1805
Modelled in military uniform and gazing left, the plinth base incised 'DUNCAN' below naval trophies of war, 19.5cm high
A similar but slightly larger bust in buff-coloured stoneware is marked 'Herculaneum' and is in the Victoria & Albert Museum, inv. no. 414:1119-1885. Although black basalt wares were produced at Herculaneum it is possible the mould was used by another contemporary factory explaining the slightly smaller scale of the present lot. It has been suggested that Pierre Stephan was responsible for the modelling of both the busts of Duncan and Jervis, see also lot 4 in this sale.