Slate

Study for ceramic plate

During the 1940s Henghes produced many ceramic works. Larger dishes painted with different coloured glazes are perhaps the most common pieces. but from this period there also exist tiles. tabletops. and a complete chess set and board.

A note by Henghes on this work written in 1950:
Madonna, my largest stonecarving so far, occupied me about 9 months. Made for St Mary le Park Church Albert Bridge Rd. Battersea. Stone paid for by Stefan Hopkinson and Brian Dupre the Vicar, cost £75.- My work given as a gift. Received a great deal of publicity due to silly objections raised by 3 women who called it blasphemous, obscene etc. Exhibited Antwerp Open Aire Exhibition 1950. To be exhibited Battersea Park Open Air Exhib. 1951 and is to go into the Church at the end of that exhibition.

Modelled in clay at Royal College or Art in 1.5 months. Cast in quick dry aluminous concrete (quartz sand 2.5 to 1 to .5 water) hollow. Shown at the Festival of Britain 1951. Now at Londons' Camden School for Girls.

Made to adorn the post of a sheltered table on the terrace at Henghes home in France

charcoal and witish colour wash. 4 abstract female figures; muses? No date, no signature

Exhibited as part of Hanover Gallery show 17 sept to 17 oct 1959, St George Street, London

paper size is 52 X 31

Sketch on reverse showing a pattern based on chickens - paper folded, so unfolded size revealing reverse sketch is 65 X 50

Numbered 53 - Has the faint outline of what may have been an alternative sketch on the reverse