Not currently on display at the V&A

King William III

Statuette
about 1700 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This statuette closely resembles the figure of John Digby (d.1698) on the monument by Nost in Sherbourne Abbey, Dorset, and was probably carved at around the same time. Nost was a Flemish sculptor who worked extensively in England. It represents King William III, turning slightly to the right with his left hand resting on his hip, holding a baton in his right hand.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleKing William III (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Boxwood
Brief description
Statuette, boxwood, William III, unknown artist, possibly by John Nost the Elder, English, ca. 1700
Physical description
Boxwood statuette. The King is represented standing turning slightly to the right, his left hand rests on his hip and he holds a plain baton in his right hand. He wears a long curling wig, a long full skirted coat frogged open in the front to show a frogged waistcoat, and a sash knotted in front over a sword belt. A shoulder cape appears under the voluminous mantle and a lace trimmed cravat is knotted at the neck. The Order of the Garter is suspended by a ribbon on his breast. A putto half kneeling at his left side is looking upwards. On a square contemporary base decorated on the sides with trophies and in front crossed branches and a fleur-de-lys crowned baton enclosed in a laurel wreath.
Dimensions
  • Height: 38cm
Object history
Bought by Mr A Sandor, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, for £17 17s, from the Christies sale held on 14 December 1939, lot 76; A misunderstanding in the sales room resulted in the Museum missing the opportunity of purchasing the present piece; instead it went to the dealer Alexander Sandor, from whom it was bought subsequently later that year for £27, 10s 0d.
Subject depicted
Summary
This statuette closely resembles the figure of John Digby (d.1698) on the monument by Nost in Sherbourne Abbey, Dorset, and was probably carved at around the same time. Nost was a Flemish sculptor who worked extensively in England. It represents King William III, turning slightly to the right with his left hand resting on his hip, holding a baton in his right hand.
Bibliographic reference
Bilbey, Diane with Trusted, Marjorie. British Sculpture 1470 to 2000. A Concise Catalogue of the Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: V& A Publications, 2002. pp. 165-6. cat. no. 224
Collection
Accession number
A.39-1939

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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