Canterbury Auction Galleries
Lot 842
Joseph Durham (1814-1877) - A rare suite of five brown patinated bronze figures of cricketers (from "British Sports Series") - "Waiting his Innings", depicting the reclining figure of Basil Edwin Lawrence (1853-1928) of Trinity College Cambridge, the seated figure holding a cricket bat, on oval rustic pattern base, 10ins x 5.25ins x 8.5ins high, signed and dated 1863, "Batsman", a standing figure holding a cricket bat, on circular base, 5.75ins diameter x 15ins high, "Bowler", a standing figure about to bowl, on circular base with cap at his feet, 5.75ins diameter x 15.75ins high, "Preparing to Catch", on circular base, 5.75ins diameter x 16.25ins high, signed on base, and "Preparing to Throw", on circular base, 5ins diameter x 15.25ins high, signed on base Note: Exhibited at the Royal Academy Exhibition 1864, Nos. 963, 953, 955, 961 and 964 - See Williams, Marcus and Phillips Gordon - The Wisden Book of Cricket Memorabilia, page 172, for a similar complete set, previously in the Pilkington Collection and now in Lords Cricket Museum. "Waiting his Innings" is clearly based on the life sized reclining figure of Basil Edwin Lawrence, which is now situated in the main entrance of the City of London School. Joseph Durham is probably more famously known for his gilded bronze sculpture of Prince Albert, forming the memorial outside the Royal Albert Hall. He was one of only twelve British sculptures to exhibit at the Great Exhibition of 1851
