The Art Union of London was founded in 1837, on the recommendation of the 1835 House of Commons Select Committee. By 1850 there were 30 Unions in Britain and Ireland, the Art Union of London being the largest. However, by the end of the 19th Century these had almost ceased to exist. Driven by a desire to educate the masses in culture and make art more accessible, members paid a small fee and were entered into a prize draw, the winners selecting works of art from amongst the Union's purchases that year, worth several times the amount of their fee. It was in effect a lottery. Interest in pictures was more widespread than in sculpture and by the mid-1840s there was an initiative to bring sculpture to the fore by producing a limited number of reductions of well-known Antique and contemporary sculptures in bronze, converting monuments to ornaments. These were also offered as prizes.
I have a tea pot, tray and sugar and creamer set made by sheridan and was wondering it's value and approximate age. They all have the footed bottom on them.
it is a small loveseat type of chair dark wood, it has what appear to be lions heads carved at the end of the armrest and clawed feet on the front legs only. the back wood above the seat has a smooth slightly rounded curve to it.
This is a pair of male and female cats. The heads, hands and part of arms up to elbow are made of bisque. Also the footwear and legs up to knees are made of bisque. The rest of the both is cloth and stuffed. They have strawlike whiskers and eyelashes. The male is missing its whiskers. The male have on a black and white tuxedo, original with black bisque boots and gloves. The female have a maroon victorian style dress with an attached slip and net like pettite coat or underwear. She is wearing brown high heels with black and brown gloves. Her dress I am not sure of originality. They are in very good condition. I have not attempted to clean clothes or anything like that. They are how I bought them.
