A black basalt figure of Admiral Lord Hood, circa 1785-90

A black basalt figure of Admiral Lord Hood, circa 1785-90
Modelled by Pierre Stephan, standing before a cannon inscribed 'Ad. Hood', supporting the telescope held in his left hand, his right arm raised, the blade now lacking from the sword hilt in this hand, the rocky base incised 'Stephan. f', 30.5cm high
The present lot and a related figure of Rodney, lot 2 in this sale, are both illustrated by Hilary Young, The Birth of the Ceramic Designer, British Ceramic Design (2003), p.23. A similar example is in the Metropolitan Museum, New York, acc. no. 38.165.50. Samuel Hood was promoted to Rear Admiral in 1780 serving as second in command to Admiral Rodney in the American Revolutionary War.