The Stone Couple

A formidable pair I spotted in London Fields.

La Deliverance

The "Naked Lady" holding her sword high in the air, was created by French sculptor Émile Oscar Guillaume.  She was created as a celebration of the battle of Marne where the German army was stopped from capturing Paris in 1914.

Eleven copies of her were presented to cities in France and Belgium that were occupied or destroyed by the Germans.  Her nakedness caused a bit of a stir at the time so she was not readily accepted by all the communities offered her.  Our one in South Finchley gave her a couple of alternative titles: "Dirty Gertie" or "The Wicked Woman" and "The Naked Lady".

Teddy Paddock

In 1927 at just 19 years of age Teddy Paddock was crowned bantamweight champion of the world.  Having defeated Archie Bell of America for the vacant title. He retained the title until 1931.   He also held the titles of European Champion from 1928-1931, Commonwealth champion from 1928-1930 and British champion 1928-1931.

All this information is on the plaque that accompanies the statue that stands in Langdon Park.  Yet I can't find any other information about this local icon.  Does anyone out there know about him?

Shakespeare and Christmas

What do you suppose the Baird would make of all these festivities?

Angel Memorial

In a small park near Angel Islington stands an angel with this plaque:

The Printers

A newsboy, a printer and an editor now sit in the tranquil garden of the goldsmiths guild, it was moved from its original spot at New Street Square in Holborn when that area was redeveloped.  The sculpture was created by Wilfred Dudeney (1932-1996), the son of a journalist.  The work was commissioned in 1956 and is the only known sculpture representing newspapers.  

Bear

Of course I only discover the giant bear on the last day it will be standing here.  I might just go back and see if they (whoever they may be) have changed their minds and the bear will not go into hibernation during winter.  Quite like the idea of a bear covered in snow (assuming we get snow this winter).  He is (or was) standing on the corner of Oxford St and Quebec St a sculpture created by artist Nick Bibby.

Peter Pan and Tinkerbell

At last I've finally seen them.  Peter Pan and Tinkerbell have been behind hoardings for a couple of years.  They stand at the entrance to Great Ormonds children's hospital blowing kisses of magic.

Duke in Soap

For close to a hundred years a stone statue of the Duke of Cumberland stood on this plinth.  However he fell from grace in the 19th century.  No longer a hero he was now regarded as  Butcher Cumberland.  The statue was removed.

In 2012 Korean artist Meekyoung Shin was commissioned to create a new work for the plinth.  The Duke on his horse returned to the plinth.  This time he is created in soap.  We are invited to watch him fade over time and throughout the seasons as the soap disintegrates and releases a perfumed aroma.  Limbs have fallen off and both man and horse are crumbling for a second time.

Rake to Rebel

"A champion of English freedom" reads the inscription on this monument to John Wilkes.  As a young man he had  a reputation as a rake (a bit of a lad about town) but at the age of 30 he put his energies into being a politician albeit with (for the time) rather radical views.

He campaigned to have parliamentary speeches published in full and introduced the first bill to reform parliament.  During the American War of Independence he supported the American rebels.

A Tribute to Mary Queen of Scots

An ornate building on the Strand with a statue of Mary Queen of Scots now houses a lunch bar of the Pret chain. The building was originally designed for a Scottish Insurance company, the developer was a great admirer of the young queen and commissioned this tribute to her.

Queen Victoria

Along Fleet St where the gates to London City once stood is a large statue of Queen Victoria.  Around the base of that statue are small stories showing details of her reign.  On one side id=s this relief showing her taking a carriage to Guild Hall.

Worth standing in the middle of the road to see up close.

Edward VII

The king who gave us the "Edwardian era" might not feel too happy at the entrance of an underground station.  However he was popped there 15 years before the station was built.  

King William of Orange

The statue of King William of Orange was recently given a bit of a clean up to celebrate the 100 years he has been standing in front of Kensington Palace. Other parts of the palace are undergoing more than a clean up in preparation for Kate and Wills moving in.

Genghis Khan

Genghis Khan on his horse looks even more scary as night falls.  The five metre statue at Marble Arch, is the work of Russian sculptor DashiNamdakov, who comes from a small village close to where the Mongol Nomadic tribes ruled.
He says of this sculpture that he is showing the great Genghis Khan as a thinker not a warrior. I think I would be getting out of his way pretty quickly if I was confronted with intellect like this.  

Girl and Dolphin

One of London's iconic statues the girl and dolphin.  Thousands of tourist photograph it every year generally from the other side so Tower Bridge is in the background.
Sculptor David Wynne also did the boy and the dolphin, that is considered to be the better of the two. This one is in Chelsea.   He used his 10 year old son for the model when he created the piece in 1961.  A rather sad plaque was added in 1999 when his son died.

Piccadilly Horses

The statue of the four horses of Helios with a small fountain at their feet is popular for a tourist photo. I haven't been able to find any information on the history of why this statue was put here. I'm relying on some of you to enlighten me.

Keats in the Garden

A tribute to John Keats in the garden of Guy's Hospital, Southwark. Keats trained as a surgeon-apothecary here 1815-16.

Boy and Statue

One century leaning on the other and I'll bet the summer was like this back in the iron age too

No Gnomes Here

Spotted these garden statues in a store selling everything you need for your oudoor area. A gnome or a royal couple? Think I'll stick to daisies.