About this piece
back to topA fascinating patinated plaster tabletop sculpture of a caged lion by the acclaimed British sculptor, John W. Mills. This is an original maquette from the artist’s Caged Lion series which explores the symbolism of confining such a great and powerful beast to a cage.
A lecturer at St Albans School of Art from 1962-70 and Hertfordshire College of Art and Design from 1970-77, Mills took inspiration for this thought-provoking collection from the lions at London Zoo after taking a group of students there to observe the animals during his teaching career.
From here, he created the Caged Lion series, crafting a range of sculptural figures and original maquettes with one distinctive flat edge, marked with vertical lines representative of the bars of a cage.
Select pieces from the Caged Lion series formed part of John W. Mills’ ‘Lions’ exhibition at the Pyramid Gallery, York in 2016.
Finished with a patination to resemble bronze, this original plaster maquette is mounted on an integrated wooden base, making it perfect for decorative display in an interior.
A handwritten pen inscription to the bottom of the base reads ‘JWM 3,550’.
John W. Mills (1933-2023)
John Mills was a highly acclaimed English sculptor, celebrated across the globe for his contemporary statues, bronze figures and artistic maquettes.
Mills showcased a flair for sculpture from a young age, first exhibiting at the Royal Academy of Arts in 1951 and then hosting his first one-man show at the AIA Gallery, London in 1959. Throughout his distinguished career, Mills went on to received several prizes and accolades and many notable commissions.
Some of his most famous works include the monumental memorial to The Woman of World War II in Whitehall, London and the National Firefighters Memorial near St. Paul’s Cathedral, London.
Following the sculptor’s passing in 2023, the contents of John W. Mill’s creative studio at his family home in Hinxworth Place, Hertfordshire were dispersed. This sculpture formed part of this curated collection, from which we selected several pieces, offering a rare chance to obtain original works made by the artist, including sculptural pieces for garden, interior and exhibition.
