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A sphinx
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After John Cheere (1709 - 1787), sculptor
A sphinx
Early 19th century
Plaster
Museum number: M597
Not on display
Curatorial note
A sphinx (half lioness, half woman) on a rectangular base and equipped with a headress, breastplate with scales and a decorated saddle cloth.
This is identical to a pair of pressed earthenware sphinxes at Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire which have been identified as after John Cheere who based his model on a lead sphinx made by Giovanni Battista Guelfi for Lord Burlington at Chiswick House (1749), which was in turn based on an antique original. Cheere took moulds from the Chiswick sphinx and produced versions in various materials and sizes.
Robert Adam obtained sphinxes of this design for several clients, probably from Cheere. Examples known to have been supplied by him survive elsewhere, at Stourhead, Blenheim Palace and Somerset House.
The model was produced into the 19th century with examples known in Coade Stone (at Croome Court) and by Wedgwood.
This pair have no marks so it is not possible to confirm exacly when or where they were produced.
This entry is based on the National Trust online catalogue entry for the Kedleston examples, by Alice Rylance-Watson, 2020.
This is identical to a pair of pressed earthenware sphinxes at Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire which have been identified as after John Cheere who based his model on a lead sphinx made by Giovanni Battista Guelfi for Lord Burlington at Chiswick House (1749), which was in turn based on an antique original. Cheere took moulds from the Chiswick sphinx and produced versions in various materials and sizes.
Robert Adam obtained sphinxes of this design for several clients, probably from Cheere. Examples known to have been supplied by him survive elsewhere, at Stourhead, Blenheim Palace and Somerset House.
The model was produced into the 19th century with examples known in Coade Stone (at Croome Court) and by Wedgwood.
This pair have no marks so it is not possible to confirm exacly when or where they were produced.
This entry is based on the National Trust online catalogue entry for the Kedleston examples, by Alice Rylance-Watson, 2020.
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