John (1811) Bell Paintings & Artwork for Sale | John (1811) Bell Art Value Price Guide

Sep. 04, 2026
JOHN BELL ATTRIBUTED, WAYNESBORO, PENNSYLVANIA DECORATED EARTHENWARE / REDWARE COVER
Est: $30 - $50
JOHN BELL ATTRIBUTED, WAYNESBORO, PENNSYLVANIA DECORATED EARTHENWARE / REDWARE COVER, lead-glazed with sponged manganese to edge, circular form with round finial. John Bell, Waynesboro, PA. 1840-1880. 7 3/4" DOA, 6 5/8" D interior flange.
Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates
Aug. 19, 2026
John Bell for Minton Parian 'The Octoroon' and an English Parian Figure 'Eve'
Est: $300 - $500
The first impressed marks and cyphers; the second apparently unmarked. The first 17 1/4 x 5 3/4 in. diam., the second 19 x 6 1/4 in. diam.
STAIR
Aug. 19, 2026
John Bell for Minton Parian 'Dorothea' and 'Clorinda'
Est: $400 - $600
Each inscribed 'John Bell 1843'. Dorothea 14 x 8 x 6 1/2 in., Clorinda 14 x 5 1/4 x 7 1/4 in.
STAIR
Aug. 13, 2026
John Bell Parian Ware Porcelain Figurine of Dorothea
Est: $100 - $200
John Bell (British, 1811-1895). Victorian Parian ware porcelain figure of Dorothea. Signed on the back of the base. 13" H x 6" W x 7 1/2" D. Location: 14B
Willow Auction House
Jun. 26, 2026
JOHN BELL ATTRIBUTED, WAYNESBORO, PENNSYLVANIA DECORATED EARTHENWARE / REDWARE COVER
Est: $50 - $100
JOHN BELL ATTRIBUTED, WAYNESBORO, PENNSYLVANIA DECORATED EARTHENWARE / REDWARE COVER, lead-glazed with sponged manganese to edge, circular form with round finial. John Bell, Waynesboro, PA. 1840-1880. 7 3/4" DOA, 6 5/8" D interior flange.
Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates
Jun. 26, 2026
JOHN BELL ATTRIBUTED, WAYNESBORO, PENNSYLVANIA DECORATED STONEWARE CROCK
Est: $100 - $200
JOHN BELL ATTRIBUTED, WAYNESBORO, PENNSYLVANIA DECORATED STONEWARE CROCK, salt-glazed with slip wash, approximately two-gallon capacity, wide-mouth cylindrical form with squared rim, applied arched handles, squared foot, and Albany-slip glazed interior. Brushed cobalt horizontal double dropped feather decoration to shoulder on each side, additional cobalt to handle terminals. Unmarked. Attributed to John Bell (1800-1880), Waynesboro, PA. Mid 19th century. 8 1/2" H, 9 1/4" D rim.
Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates
May. 02, 2026
JOHN BELL (WAYNESBORO, PENNSYLVANIA) REDWARE CAKE MOLD.
Est: $250 - $500
JOHN BELL (WAYNESBORO, PENNSYLVANIA) REDWARE CAKE MOLD. American, 19th Century. Round mold with spiral pattern, stamped "JOHN BELL / WAYNESBORO", and with a great light brown glaze. 5.25"h. 9"d. Provenance: The Lifetime Collection of the late Nancy Goff (Alliance, Ohio).
Amelia Jeffers
May. 01, 2026
JOHN BELL (WAYNESBORO, PENNSYLVANIA) COBALT-DECORATED STONEWARE BUTTER CROCK WITH MATCHING LID.
Est: $1,000 - $2,000
JOHN BELL (WAYNESBORO, PENNSYLVANIA) COBALT-DECORATED STONEWARE BUTTER CROCK WITH MATCHING LID. American, 19th Century. Lid and base impressed "JOHN BELL, WAYNESBORO". Lid with knob handle, base with applied handles, floral decoration, and rings around handle ends. 5.5"h. 7.5"d. Provenance: The Lifetime Collection of the late Nancy Goff (Alliance, Ohio); Don & Kay Buck (Millington, New Jersey).
Amelia Jeffers
Mar. 20, 2026
John Bell (English, 1811-1895)
Est: £400 - £600
John Bell (English, 1811-1895) Pair of tondo oil paintings on board, "Knaresborough Castle, Yorkshire", signed and dated lower left "J Bell 1851" and "Bootburn Bridge, Herts", signed and dated indistinctly lower right, inscribed on backboards "original label beneath" name of artist, and "London 1851", reproduction gilt frames with gilt spandrels, 33.8cm. diameter. (2)
Martel Maides
Feb. 11, 2026
BELL, John.
Est: €500 - €600
BELL, John. Travels from St Petersburg in Russia, to diverse parts of Asia. Glasgow, Robert et Andrew Foulis, 1763. 2 volumes in-4. (11)-XVII-(3)-357-(2) pp., (1)-426-(1) pp., sur vergé, une carte dépliante. Veau fauve de l’époque, fine frise dorée en encadrement sur les plats, dos à nerfs, caissons à motifs fleuronnés dorés et roulettes dorées, pièces de titre et tomaison, titre doré, roulette dorée sur les coupes, gardes de papier marbré de type caillouté, tête bleue (reliure frottée, un plat détaché avec qques ff au tome I, coins, coiffes et coupes usés, dos dissemblables du fait du manque d’une pdt et d’une de tomaison, quelques rousseurs au début du volume I et à la carte, un des ex-libris détaché). Édition originale, dans sa reliure anglaise de l’époque. Important récit de voyage effectué dans la première moitié du XVIIIe à travers toute la Russie au XVIIIᵉ siècle jusqu’en Chine, illustré d’une belle carte dépliante en long, gravée par John Riddell à l’eau forte en noir, montrant l’itinéraire détaillé de Moscou à Pékin, avec des figures de putti et de chinois ornant le cartouche. L’ouvrage offre une description détaillée des mœurs, coutumes, de la géographie et des paysages des pays parcourus. Expatrié britannique, l’écossais Bell (1691-1780), diplomate et médecin voyageur, traversa la Russie et l’Orient entre 1715 et 1738. Il accompagna les ambassades de Pierre le Grand à Ispahan en Perse (1715–1717), se rendit à Pékin via la Sibérie (1719–1721), à Derbent en Perse (1722), puis à Constantinople (1737-1738). Il fit notamment une description de la Grande muraille de Chine et de sa rencontre du Dalaï-Lama. Bell ne publia qu’un seul long récit de ses souvenirs de son long parcours, dans cet ouvrage. Contient en début du tome I la liste de tous les souscripteurs. Provenances : Ex-libris gravé en noir aux grandes armes du château de La Palice (Allier). Ex-libris manuscrit ancien Anne Ellis sur un feuillet au tome I. Cordier,Sinica, 2093. Blackmer, 111. [Russie - Asie].
Gros-Delettrez
Feb. 07, 2026
John Bell for Minton Parian, Dorothea and Clorinda
Est: $400 - $600
John Bell for Minton parian figures comprising a John Bell for Minton parian figure of Dorothea, stamped John Bell to side with English marks, and with 1845-1870 Minton mark under base, and a Minton parian figure of Clorinda, signed John Bell February 1848 to reverse, and with Minton 1845-1870 stamp to base with edition 12/49. [Figure of Clorinda: 13" H x 9.5" W x 5" D]. Condition is good with some chips to base of Dorothea and surface level repairs and some minor surface wear to Clorinda. From the Collection of Sonia and Philip Reine of Long Island.
Roland Auctions NY
Dec. 11, 2025
Anatomy.- Bell (John) Engravings of the Bones, Muscles, and Joints..., third edition, 1810; and two other anatomical works, 19th-20th century (3)
Est: £200 - £300
Anatomy.- Bell (John) Engravings of the Bones, Muscles, and Joints..., third edition, additional etched title and 32 plates, advertisement leaf at end, ink ownership inscription to title and front endpapers, bookplate, the odd plate trimmed at foot, slightly affecting plate, offsetting and scattered spotting or foxing, some staining, hinges reinforced, contemporary half calf, rebacked, preserving old spine, rubbed and bumped, 1810; and two other anatomical works, 19th-20th century, v.s. (3) ⁂ "John Bell, the Scottish anatomist, is regarded as the founder of surgical anatomy. His illustrations were his own work, and were of a high standard." GM
Forum Auctions - UK
Nov. 15, 2025
JOHN BELL GLAZED FOOD MOLD
Est: $400 - $800
Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, c. 1870. Redware with a variegated yellow glaze. Marked. 10" diameter. Provenance: a southern Ohio collection; sold at Garth's (Ohio), January 2005, lot 975. PLEASE NOTE OUR SHIPPING PROCESS. There are three ways to get your purchases from our gallery to you: 1. You pick things up yourself (by appointment); 2. You engage a third-party company to pick things up on your behalf (by appointment); 3. Our affordable in-house shipping: shippable items will be packed and shipped in-house, and larger items will be sent via freight; we will bill you separately for the cost of packing and shipping. Condition: A few hairlines at the rim, a few minor chips, restoration at the mark.
Meander Auctions by Hollie Davis and Andrew Richmond
Sep. 11, 2025
JOHN BELL (1812-1895), A WHITE MARBLE FIGURE OF A YOUNG GIRL, CIRCA 1870-1880
Est: £800 - £1,200
JOHN BELL (1812-1895), A WHITE MARBLE FIGURE OF A YOUNG GIRL CIRCA 1870-1880 Kneeling child holding a songbird, signed to reverse J Bell 64cm high, 28cm wide, 42cm deep TOGETHER WITH ANOTHER MARBLE FIGURE OF A YOUNG GIRL, TITLED 'THE FRIEND OF THE FAMILY'POSSIBLY BY THE SAME HANDDepicting a young girl feeding a hen and its chicks seated on her lap58cm high, 42cm wide, 37cm deep The first is possibly illustrated on plate 80, page 180 Richard Barnes: John Bell: The Sculptor's Life and Works, Frontier Publishing 1999.
Dreweatts 1759 Fine Sales
May. 30, 2025
JOHN BELL HOOD MEMOIRE
Est: $150 - $250
"Advance and Retreat: Personal Experiences in the United States and Confederate States Armies" by General John Bell Hood. Published by Hood Orphan Memorial Fund, New Orleans, LA, 1880. Marble edges, 358 pages with maps.
New Hampshire Auctions and Appraisals LLC
Mar. 27, 2025
JOHN BELL (1811-1895), A TERRACOTTA FIGURE 'YOUR GOOD HEALTH', CIRCA 1863
Est: £800 - £1,200
JOHN BELL (1811-1895), A TERRACOTTA FIGURE 'YOUR GOOD HEALTH' CIRCA 1863 Inscribed in Greek on the urn, translates as 'Is it not excellent water' 82cm high A marble version of 'Your Good Health' was exhibited at the Suffolk Street Galleries in 1867 priced at £100. According to Richard Barnes in his book, 'John Bell, the Sculptors Life and Works', 'Your Good Health' was either bought or given to Sir William Hooker, director of Kew Gardens as thanks for his help in arranging specimen plants from the Americas when he was working on his America sculptural group for the Albert Memorial. According to Ray Desmond's book ,'Kew, History of the Royal Botanic Gardens' - 1863 'The sculptor John Bell made a fountain for Kew with the figure of a child raising a shell to its lips'.
Dreweatts 1759 Fine Sales
Mar. 26, 2025
JOHN BELL (1811-1895), A TERRACOTTA FIGURE OF DOROTHEA, DATED 1875
Est: £800 - £1,200
JOHN BELL (1811-1895), A TERRACOTTA FIGURE OF DOROTHEA DATED 1875 Titled, signed 'J Bell Fecit' and dated 1875 49cm high Exhibited: Royal Manchester Institution, Exhibition of works of modern artists 1876.
Dreweatts 1759 Fine Sales
Mar. 04, 2025
JOHN BELL (1811-1895)- A MARBLE BUST 'DOROTHEA AS MY LADY FERN', MID 19TH CENTURY
Est: £1,200 - £1,800
JOHN BELL (1811-1895)- A MARBLE BUST 'DOROTHEA AS MY LADY FERN' MID 19TH CENTURY On circular socle, signed to reverse J BELL Sc. and titled 66cm high, 44cm wide, 28cm deep Provenance:Possibly Sotheby's London, 6 November 1987, lot 364. Literature: Barnes, Richard: John Bell: The Sculptor's Life and Works, Frontier Publishing 1999.Although this work by Bell unrecorded in Richard Barnes work on his ancestor, it would seem possible that this is a portrait perhaps a reflection of the Pteridomania or fern fever that the Victorians revelled in. On page 189 he illustrates the reverse of another Dorothea that Bell carved for his of the artist's daughter Grita as a wedding present in 1881 and on which he added the same distinctive fern tracery.
Dreweatts 1759 Fine Sales
Dec. 05, 2024
John Bell Green Glazed Stoneware Flower Pot
Est: $600 - $900
Pennsylvania, second half 19th century, of tapering cylindrical form, molded rim, attached under plate, base stamped "John Bell", 6 x 7 in. diameter Provenance: Property from the Brooklyn Museum
Brunk Auctions
Oct. 31, 2024
John Bell, Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, redware mug
Est: $140 - $240
John Bell, Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, redware mug, stamped on underside, 3 1/8". Provenance: The Collection of Walter Pyle Smith & Jeannette Chaffee Smith. Competitive in-house shipping is available for this lot.
Pook & Pook Inc.
Sep. 15, 2024
John Deer Tractor Bell
Est: -
John Deer Tractor Bell
King-Meeks Auction Co LLC
Jun. 16, 2024
John Spier, Newtown Stewart, a Scottish Georgian mahogany longcase clock, the eight-day duration movement striking the hours on a bell with the twelve-inch round painted dial having a subsidiary seconds dial, black Roman
Est: -
John Spier, Newtown Stewart, a Scottish Georgian mahogany longcase clock, the eight-day duration movement striking the hours on a bell with the twelve-inch round painted dial having a subsidiary seconds dial, black Roman numerals, blued-steel moon hands and indistinctly signed John Spier, Newtown Stewart, the mahogany case with inset panels and quartered-columns to the trunk and surmounted by a swan-neck pediment to the hood. C. 1800. Comes with winding crank, twin weights and pendulum.
Bargain Hunt Auctions
May. 15, 2024
John Bell, Colin Cole, Basil Fish, David Robertson, The Authors and one other Signed Northern
Est: £6 - £10
John Bell, Colin Cole, Basil Fish, David Robertson, The Authors and one other Signed Northern Exposure- The RAF At Work in Scotland 1st Edition Hardback Book. Published in 2008. Good Condition. All autographs come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £5.99, EU from £7.99, Rest of World from £9.99
Chaucer Auctions
Feb. 28, 2024
John Bell redware pitcher
Est: $140 - $240
John Bell, Waynesboro, Pennsylvania redware pitcher with hunting scene, 7 7/8" h. Competitive in-house shipping is available for this lot.
Pook & Pook Inc.
Feb. 15, 2024
John Bell: The Time of My Life (The memoir of National Treasure John Bell)
Est: $10 - $20
John Bell: The Time of My Life (The memoir of National Treasure John Bell)
Lawsons
Feb. 14, 2024
HISTORIC INTEREST: an exhibition silver and gilt electrotype clock the case designed by John Bell (1811-1895) for Elkington Mason & Co, Birmingham 1853, stamped 'ELECTRO DEPOSITED & PUBLISHED BY ELKINGTON MASON & CO APRIL 1853'
Est: £4,000 - £6,000
HISTORIC INTEREST: an exhibition silver and gilt electrotype clock the case designed by John Bell (1811-1895) for Elkington Mason & Co, Birmingham 1853, stamped 'ELECTRO DEPOSITED & PUBLISHED BY ELKINGTON MASON & CO APRIL 1853' Shaped triangular sculptural form, highly decorative the 'Hours Clock-Case', the whole embellished in silver-plate and gilding, the apex crowned with a figure of Psyche, winged and looking upward, emblematic of eternity, stylised sunrays and clouds beneath her feet, the case front embellished with a dramatic bas-relief, sinuous classical figures representing the twelve hours are cast encircling the enamelled clock dial, to the base are two further figures symbolising 'Night', a woman in repose, and 'Morning', a man waking, rocky outcrops beneath them, the reverse encasing a brass twin train clock movement with outside count wheel striking on a bell, includes pendulum and two winders, all raised on three ball feet, width 29cm, height 40cm. For further information on this lot please visit the Bonhams website
Bonhams
Nov. 25, 2023
Bell John
Est: CHF960 - CHF1,200
Lago Maggiore Unten rechts signiert und datiert 1959. Verso mit Reparaturstelle Gerahmt Ausrufdatum: 25.11.2023 Ungefähre Ausrufzeit: 17:55
Auktionshaus Zofingen
Oct. 19, 2023
Minton. A Victorian parian ware figure of Miranda by John Bell (1811-1895)
Est: £200 - £300
Minton. A Victorian parian ware figure of Miranda by John Bell (1811-1895) * A Minton parian ware figure of Miranda by John Bell (1811-1895), the semi-naked female seated by a sea shell, impressed marks, 39 cm high, together with a pair of parian ware figures, circa 1890, modelled as two girls in drapery (similar examples are modelled by James Hadley of the Royal Worcester factory, this pair unmarked), 28 cm high QTY: (3) NOTE: Provenance: Private Collection, Bristol, UK. Miranda was the daughter of Prospero in Shakespeare's The Tempest. The figure was produced for the Art Union of London and was first exhibited by Minton at the 1851 Great Exhibition.
Dominic Winter Auctions
Oct. 07, 2023
John Bell Crock
Est: $5 - $500
John Bell Waynesboro Pennsylvania redware crock with Albany slip decoration, 13 1/2"h
Dovetail Auctions, LLC
Oct. 05, 2023
John Bell redware cake mold
Est: $300 - $500
John Bell (Waynesboro, Pennsylvania 1800-1880), redware cake mold, stamped on side, 4 1/2" h., 9" dia. Provenance: The Collection of Ellen & Richard Levine, New York. Competitive in-house shipping is available for this lot.
Pook & Pook Inc.
Oct. 05, 2023
John Bell redware pudding mold
Est: $400 - $600
John Bell (Waynesboro, Pennsylvania 1800-1880), redware pudding mold, stamped on side, 2 3/8" h., 4 1/4" dia. Provenance: The Collection of Ellen & Richard Levine, New York. Competitive in-house shipping is available for this lot.
Pook & Pook Inc.
Oct. 05, 2023
John Bell, Waynesboro, Pennsylvania redware crock
Est: $200 - $300
John Bell (Waynesboro, Pennsylvania 1800-1880), redware crock, stamped on base, 7 1/4" h. Provenance: The Collection of Ellen & Richard Levine, New York. Competitive in-house shipping is available for this lot.
Pook & Pook Inc.
Aug. 25, 2023
John Bell, "Una und der Löwe"
Est: -
John Bell, "Una und der Löwe" um 1850, unsigniert, Hersteller Mintons England, geprägte Schriftzugmarke und Prägezeichen, Majolika farbig glasiert, über rechteckigem Sockel auf majestätischem Löwen seitlich sitzende junge Frau als Akt, Darstellung der Jungfrau Una mit ihrem treuen Begleiter und Beschützer, dem Löwen, guter altersgemäßer Zustand, H 37 cm. Info: die Skulptur "Una und der Löwe" wurde von Edmund Spensers epischem Gedicht "The Faerie Queene" (1590) inspiriert, auf der Londoner Weltausstellung 1851 gezeigt und von Mintons in Kleinformat reproduziert. Quelle: engl. Wikipedia. Künstlerinfo: britischer Bildhauer (1812 Suffolk bis 1895 Kensington), ab 1829 Studium an den Royal Academy Schools, ließ sich 1832 als Bildhauer nieder, stellte Werke auf der Londoner Weltausstellung 1851 und bis 1897 in der Royal Akademy aus, Quelle: Internet. "Una and the Lion"John Bell, "Una and the Lion" circa 1850, unsigned, maker Mintons England, embossed script mark and embossing marks, majolica coloured glazed, above rectangular base on majestic lion sideways seated young woman as nude, depicting the maiden Una with her faithful companion and protector, the lion, good condition due to age, h 37 cm. Info: the sculpture "Una and the Lion" was inspired by Edmund Spenser's epic poem "The Faerie Queene" (1590), shown at the London World's Fair 1851 and reproduced in small format by Mintons. Source: English Wikipedia. Artist info: British sculptor (1812 Suffolk to 1895 Kensington), studied at the Royal Academy Schools from 1829, settled as a sculptor in 1832, exhibited works at the London World's Fair 1851 and at the Royal Academy until 1897, source: Internet.
Auktionshaus Mehlis GmbH
Jul. 16, 2023
John Deere cast iron dinner bell
Est: -
John Deere cast iron dinner bell
King-Meeks Auction Co LLC
Aug. 17, 2022
Theatre.- Bell (John) Bell's British Theatre, Containing the Most Esteemed English Plays, 21 vol., 1780.
Est: £200 - £300
Theatre.- Bell (John) Bell's British Theatre, Containing the Most Esteemed English Plays, 21 vol., half-titles, engraved plates, ink ownership inscriptions to titles, a very few minor instances of spotting or soiling, overall internally clean, contemporary uniform tree calf, spines gilt with red and green morocco labels, upper cover vol. 1 detached, a few with cracking to joints but holding firm, extremities a little scuffed, 8vo, for John Bell, at the British Library, 1780.
Forum Auctions - UK
Apr. 20, 2022
JOHN BELL (1811-1895) FOR MINTON & CO. 'DOROTHEA' & 'CLORINDA', CIRCA 1847-8
Est: £500 - £800
JOHN BELL (1811-1895) FOR MINTON & CO. 'DOROTHEA' & 'CLORINDA', CIRCA 1847-8 polychrome parianware, 'Clorinda' stamped MINTON/ 203, and incised JOHN BELL/ FEBRUARY/ 1848, 33.5cm high; 'Dorothea' with moulded decorator marks, stamped MINTON, with moulded registration lozenge for 1847, 34cm high Qty: (2) Provenance: The Peter Rose and Albert Gallichan Collection Footnote: Literature: Coleman, B., The Best of British Arts & Crafts, Atglen, 2004, pp. 74, 77-79 Note: John Bell was an esteemed British sculptor, having begun his training at the Royal Academy Schools in 1839. In the years that followed he gained widespread critical acclaim, notably from Prince Albert who became a patron of his work, and had produced some of his best-known sculptures including Psyche and the Dove, and The Eagle-Shooter, the latter becoming the first sculpture to be produced in cast-iron, and was exhibited at The Great Exhibition in 1851. During the 1840s Bell partnered with Henry Cole to produce a number of designs for his company Felix Summerly. A prolific designer, he frequently worked with a variety of materials, including metalwork and ceramics. It was around this time that Bell collaborated with several companies like Minton to recreate his sculptures in Parian ware. These sculptures were immensely popular in the late 19th century, conjuring up notions of the exclusive Grand Tour and representing a superior knowledge of Rome and Classical Antiquities. Minton are thought to have produced around 500 figures between 1845 and 1910, with Bell’s Dorothea proving a particularly popular example. Some of Bell’s larger public commissions include The Guards Crimean War Memorial, near Regent Street and Pall Mall in London, as well as the marble group representing America on the Albert Memorial.
Lyon & Turnbull
Mar. 16, 2022
JOHN BELL (ENGLISH, 1811-1895): A TERRACOTTA FIGURE 'YOUR GOOD HEALTH', C.1863
Est: £2,000 - £3,000
inscribed in Greek on the urn, translates as â€˜Is it not excellent waterâ€™, inscribed â€˜C. Stoattâ€™, 82cm high Catalogue Note: A marble version of 'Your Good Health' was exhibited at the Suffolk Street Galleries in 1867 priced at Â£100, according to Richard Barnes in his book, 'John Bell, the Sculptors Life and Works', 'Your Good Health' was either bought or given to Sir William Hooker, director of Kew Gardens as thanks for his help in arranging specimen plants from the Americas when he was working on his America sculptural group for the Albert Memorial. Sir William Hooker died in 1865 so it is unlikely he received this marble version, a theory is that the marble version was the one that Bell kept for himself as it may not have sold at the Suffolk Street Gallery exhibition. The marble version which is the only one currently known, is now in the Norwich Castle Museum. According to Ray Desmond's book ,'Kew, History of the Royal Botanic Gardens' - 1863 'The sculptor John Bell made a fountain for Kew with the figure of a child raising a shell to its lips'. This is backed up by Michael Hatt in his 2016 essay, (John Bellâ€™s American Slave â€“ Sculpture Chains and the Armstrong Gun) where he states that the fountain was commissioned by Joseph Hooker the director of Kew (son of Sir William Hooker). John bell would have had the commission prior to 1863 and made the statue, it would have originally been in plaster from this master plaster either a mould could be taken to cast in terracotta or it could be measured off and carved in marble. The marble version is 96cms high and if carved directly from the plaster would account for the shrinkage in the fired terracotta version. It is possible that Bell was hoping for an order of several fountains, Kew gardens is a large park and one public drinking fountain would not be sufficient for a visiting public. The record at Kew states 'a fountain' so we can assume it was just one and itâ€™s whereabouts is unknown. The marble version has weathered over the years and a little detail has been lost, including the inscription on the urn. this terracotta version has stood the test of time with all detail intact it appears to have been kept under cover. The terracotta version clearly shows the cup as a scallop shell the same as the Kew description. Our version was possibly a prototype to show what could be done if it was put into production, Kew may have had a terracotta fountain that was destroyed by weather or lost in reorganisation. This piece is inscribed â€˜C. Stoattâ€™, Charles Stoatt was Bell's lifetime assistant and carved marbles and made reduced sculptors for the Minton factory. He became Bell's assistant in 1851 and worked with him until Bell's death in 1895. A space where a plaque was once fixed is now sadly missing, it came from the same collection as the other terracotta in the sale by John Bell, â€™Dorotheaâ€™. Condition, a small chip on the shell cup and small chip to a leaf, two minor hairline firing cracks to the side of the neck, otherwise in perfect condition.
Curated Auctions
Mar. 16, 2022
JOHN BELL (ENGLISH, 1811-1895): A TERRACOTTA BUST OF DOROTHEA
Est: £800 - £1,200
depicted with long flowing hair, her head turned to dexter and raised on a cylindrical socle, signed and dated, 49cm high Catalogue Note: Dorothea was the popular full length marble figure which was also made as a Parian figure by Minton.
Curated Auctions
Mar. 01, 2022
Rare John Bell Waynesboro Redware Crock
Est: $10 - $1,000
Mid 19th Century; Original, 7.75" height, Pottery is available for preview and inspection at our gallery. Please view photos.
Mebane Antique Auction
Oct. 09, 2021
John Bell for Minton, a series of five w
Est: £200 - £300
John Bell for Minton, a series of five white Parian chess pieces, circa 1851, modelled as armoured pawns, one with a shield, four with bows, incised marks, 6.5cm high (5). Provenance: The Raynes Collection
Kinghams Auctioneers
Oct. 09, 2021
John Bell for Minton, a series of six bl
Est: £300 - £400
John Bell for Minton, a series of six blue Parian chess pieces, circa 1851, modelled as one bishop, two knights and three pawns, incised marks, height of largest 8.5cm (6). Provenance: The Raynes Collection
Kinghams Auctioneers
Oct. 09, 2021
John Bell for Minton, a green and gilded
Est: £200 - £300
John Bell for Minton, a green and gilded Parian pawn chess piece, circa 1851, modelled as an armoured putti with bow, incised marks, 6.5cm high. Provenance: The Raynes Collection
Kinghams Auctioneers
Oct. 09, 2021
John Bell for Minton, a green and gilded
Est: £200 - £300
John Bell for Minton, a green and gilded Parian pawn chess piece, circa 1851, modelled as an armoured putti with bow, incised marks, 6.5cm high. Provenance: The Raynes Collection
Kinghams Auctioneers
Oct. 09, 2021
John Bell for Minton, a green and gilded
Est: £200 - £300
John Bell for Minton, a green and gilded Parian pawn chess piece, circa 1851, modelled as an armoured putti with bow, incised marks, 6.5cm high. Provenance: The Raynes Collection
Kinghams Auctioneers
Oct. 09, 2021
John Bell for Minton, a white and gilded
Est: £300 - £400
John Bell for Minton, a white and gilded Parian rook chess piece, circa 1851, modelled as triple putti with interlinked arms, incised marks, 9cm high. Provenance: The Raynes Collection
Kinghams Auctioneers
Oct. 09, 2021
John Bell for Minton, a white and gilded
Est: £200 - £300
John Bell for Minton, a white and gilded Parian pawn chess piece, circa 1851, modelled as an armoured putti, incised marks, 6.5cm high. Provenance: The Raynes Collection
Kinghams Auctioneers
Oct. 09, 2021
John Bell for Minton, a white and gilded
Est: £200 - £300
John Bell for Minton, a white and gilded Parian pawn chess piece, circa 1851, modelled as an armoured putti, incised marks, 6.5cm high. Provenance: The Raynes Collection
Kinghams Auctioneers
Aug. 25, 2021
JOHN BELL HOOD
Est: $1,000 - $1,500
(1831 - 1879) Confederate Lieutenant General who led the 'Texas Brigade' at Second Bull Run and Antietam, and served under Longstreet in Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, and Chickamauga, where he lost a limb. A WAR-DATED LETTER WHILE IN KENTUCKY Scarce, good content war-date A.L.S. 'J. B. Hood', 2pp. 8vo., '[illeg.] Ky.', Nov. 3, 1862 to his friend, Major B. H. Blanton in Frankfort. In part: '...I arrived here three days since. I had expected to come thro Frankfort but missed it by accident. I will be in Lexington next week & anxious to see you. Can't you come there on my arrival? I will be in Ky. about one month & then return to Texas. My health was never better, and [I] find my mother well. Give my regards to all friends. Expect to be in Frankfort before I return. Your friend J. B. Hood (answer this). Very good, in a custom leather folder with gilt title. Hood was of course born in Kentucky and had a good many relations in the state - no doubt he was visiting following the arduous Antietam campaign a few months earlier. Bragg had undertaken his mediocre Kentucky campaign only a few weeks earlier, leaving Union forces generally in control of the region Hood was visiting. Benjamin Harrison Blanton was volunteer aide-de-camp to Hood during the Seven Days actions in Virginia in 1862, later elevated to the rank of major, and his horse was shot from under him at Antietam. After the war, it is believed he became a distiller in Frankfort, no doubt related to Albert Blanton of Frankfort, for whom the bourbon of the same name is honored.
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