A serpentine fish carved in wood. an unusual piece for Henghes - Exhibited at Royal Society of British Artists Suffolk Street show in December 1949

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.

The Girl is thought to be a model at the Royal College of Art where Henghes was lecturing at the time.

Signed H. Henghes 49

Painted in Collioure

Inscribed 'To Colin' 'La Laveuse S. Leon Sept 7 '49'. Colin Gow was Henghes' father-in-law. St Leon is a village in the Dordogne where Henghes had a holiday cottage for a few years before moving to a house a little further along the valley to live.

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.

Self portraits are highly unusual amongst Henghes work.