-Lion on Tub c. 1920s - 1930s

The A.C. Williams Company cast this Lion on Tub, but I don't know exactly when. There's a warmth to the golden bronze colour of this diminutive figure, as if it's just stepped out of the sun. It makes me think about the intimacy of holding an object like this, how the coolness of the metal would feel in your hand, the weight of it. Those aren't accidental qualities; they're deeply considered. Take the mark-making, too. It feels quick and intuitive, but also precise. Look at how the mane is treated, those slightly asymmetrical parallel lines. It’s not just about depicting hair, it’s about the feel of hair – the artist has considered how to communicate that to you, so you can feel it yourself. I'm reminded of some of Gaston Lachaise's sculptures - there's the same emphasis on simplified forms and an exaggeration of the body. Art like this reminds us that meaning doesn't have to be fixed, and sometimes, the most profound statements are made in the simplest gestures.