NINE LIMESTONE SPHERES
Hand chiselled
Late 1800s, France
£1985 for all nine, or £ 695 each trio of Large, Medium and Small.
Dimensions
Diameters : L 26 cm (10") M 19 cm (7.5") S 16 cm (6.25")
Description
These spheres were "apprentice pieces" for young stonemasons in France to hone their skills of achieving form and curvature. Each chisel mark contributed to a dented surface pattern - known as 'pocking', or "bouchardee' in French. The finished globes were then sold by the masonry yard as garden or architectural decorative pieces and in gallic rural tradition they became reputed as charmed objects to ward negative spirits away from the house and grounds.
In the garden they work strikingly as graduated trios, a full line of nine or dispersed all around.
Late 1800s, France.
Stock No. 1974
