Public Monument and Sculpture Association National Recording Project
Carved Decoration
Region ID | GW | |
Work ID | 222 | |
Manual Reference | AN/054 | |
Title | Carved Decoration | |
Sculptor | Buchan, Walter | |
Sculptor | Mossman, John G | |
Architect | Wilson, Charles | |
Builder | York, William | |
Date of design | 1856-57 | |
Year of unveiling | c.1857 | |
Unveiling details | ||
Road | La Belle Place | |
Precise Location | 2-5 La Belle Place, across north and west facades, above windows | |
A to Z Ref | 35 J15 | |
OS Ref | ||
Postcode | G3 | |
Work is | Extant | |
Listing Status | I | |
Duty of Care | Multiple owners | |
Commissioned by | David Bell, of Blackhall | |
Notes | ||
The carved decoration is on all storeys and comprises monograms under wings, winged bells, religious symbols: a bird, a chalice, and a cross within a crown of thorns. There are three busts, a young male, a girl, and a mature bearded male | ||
The two tenements were erected by the merchant David Bell, of Blackhall and are contemporary with the adjacent Queen's Rooms (now Hindu Mandir), also designed by Charles Wilson. The monograms and bells refer to David Bell himself (as does the street name). The personal significance of the religious symbols and the busts remains ambiguous and could be Masonic. Attributions: William York was the builder of the Queen's Rooms and was undoubtedly the builder of the tenements also. Similarly, John Mossman is the named sculptor on the earlier building and Walter Buchan is known to have been his assistant there. It is certain therefore that they were involved in the carved decoration on the tenement; either in the same roles ( i.e. modeller and carver) or, as is most probable for such a small commission, the modelling and carving was entrusted to Buchan himself. Nos. 2-3 are currently being restored (Sept 1999) | ||
circa | c. | |
raw year | 1857 | |
Condition | Fair | |
At risk | Not at risk | |
Inscriptions | In intaglio Roman letters above storey windows: D B (entwined), and B | |
Signatures | ||
Elements
Element Details
Part of work | Material | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|
Sculpture | Blond sandstone | |
Assessment of Condition
Surface Character
Detail | Comment |
|---|---|
Surface spalling, crumbling | Some sculpture crumbling |
Previous treatments | No.s 2-3 have been cleaned |
Other | No.s 4-5 are blackened |
Structural Condition
Structural Condition | Comment |
|---|---|
Broken, missing parts | Some parts of sculpture have broken off |
Vandalism
Vandalism | Comment |
|---|---|
None | |