λ Paul Mount (British 1922-2012) Untitled (Male and Female form) Polished bronze on slate base Signed (to side of base) Height: 34cm (13¼ in.) Conceived circa 1960s. Provenance: Sale, Christie's online, 2 December 2016, lot 5 Purchased from the above sale by the present owner Mount is renowned for his ability to fuse two juxtaposed design styles, combining the futurist and geometrical forms of modernism together with the more grounded and natural style of hand carved African sculpture. Mount was born in Newton Abbot, Devon. He studied at Paignton School of Art followed by attendance at the Royal College of Art. His education was cut short when he was called for service in 1941. Mount served in the Friends Ambulance Unit in north Africa and France. One of the most influential periods in Mount's career was his move to Lagos, Nigeria in 1955. He set up an art department at Yaba Technical Institute. He was keen that his students learnt tangible skills, and so he employed a wood-carver from Benin. This sparked his interest in sculpture further and he began experimenting with materials such as iroko and ebony. Despite this, his interest in architectural and furniture design prevailed and commissions continued to roll in. In 1960 Mount produced a screen wall at the Swiss Embassy in Lagos. In 1962, Mount returned to England and moved to Nancherrow in Cornwall. Inspired by Barbara Hepworth and her assistants Denis Mitchell and John Milne, Mount looked towards the natural landscape like the Cornish modernists. However, his interest in architectural design and machinery encouraged more angular designs with influences from mainland Europe such as Basque and Eduardo Chillida. First London show was held at the Drian Gallery in 1965 and his first solo exhibition at Marlborough Fine Art 10 years later. "The way that two shapes relate, is as important as the way two people relate" Paul Mount Condition Report: There is some tarnishing to the gold surface, minor scratches, nicks, and scuffs throughout with some losses and rubbing to extreme edges at both bases. Would benefit from a clean and polish. Condition Report Disclaimer