About this piece
back to topA lifesize bronzed resin maquette by John W. Mills made for the original bronze titled ‘Swimmers’ which was unveiled on Mill Road, Cambridge in 1966. The bronze original was commissioned by the 1963-64 Mayor of Cambridge and is after a design by earlier English sculptor Betty Rea (1904-1966).
This maquette, which features 3 figures dressed in swimming attire standing in conversation, is fixed to a painted wooden plinth at the ankles creating the illusion that they are standing in a pool of shallow water, catching their breath after a swim on a hot summer’s day.
In its current form, this artist’s maquette is suitable as a decorative piece for an interior. It could also be used in a garden – you’d just need to change the plinth to something suitable for use outside, the resin figures unbolting from the base to do this. Alternatively, you could do away with the plinth completely and the mount the figures directly into the ground.
You could just imagine this as an artistic feature of the indoor pool of a luxury hotel or a centrepiece of an outdoor Californian pool complex.
John W. Mills (1933-2023)
John Mills PPRBS ARCA FRSA 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.
Additional Information
Price includes Artist’s Resale Rights (ARR) at 4%.
Provenance: Hinxworth Place; The Estate of John Mills (1933-2023)
