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Cast of part of an anta capital from the Erechtheion, Athen
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SM M1348. ©Sir John Soane's Museum, London. Photo: Lewis Bush
Cast of part of an anta capital from the Erechtheion, Athen
Plaster cast in a moulded timber frame.
Museum number: M1348
On display: Drawing Office - also known as the Students Room (pre-booked tours only)
All spaces are in No. 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields unless identified as in No. 12, Soane's first house.
For tours https://www.soane.org/your-visit
Curatorial note
A cast from one of the most celebrated of all Greek temples, the Erechtheion (421-406 BC) on the Acropolis in Athens. The fragment is ornamented with (from the bottom) scrolling alternating lotus and palmette ornaments, bead and reel moulding, gg and dart moulding, another bead and reel and a leaf and dart moulding.
The British Museum acquired an original anta capital of this form from Thomas Bruce, Earl of Elgin, in 1816 (Britisih Museum 1816,0610.255) which came from the east porch of the Erechtheion. As this original was in the British Museum during Soane's lifetime it is therefore possible that this cast was made in London; it was certainly acquired by Soane in England.
The British Museum acquired an original anta capital of this form from Thomas Bruce, Earl of Elgin, in 1816 (Britisih Museum 1816,0610.255) which came from the east porch of the Erechtheion. As this original was in the British Museum during Soane's lifetime it is therefore possible that this cast was made in London; it was certainly acquired by Soane in England.
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