Bidspirit auction | Benjamin Edward Spence Highland Mary

Benjamin Edward Spence Highland Mary Carved Alabaster Sculpture - Benjamin Edward Spence Highland Mary carved alabaster sculpture. This nineteenth-century work is a parlor-sized version of the celebrated original modeled by Spence in 1850. he sculpture represents Robert Burns' love, Mary Campbell, depicted in a pose of mourning and contemplation. The standing female figure is dressed in a high-waisted gown with a long, heavy veil or cloak draped over her head and shoulders. She holds a small closed book in her right hand, while her left hand is positioned at her chest, gathering the fabric of her veil. The sculpture is hand-carved from white alabaster, displaying the stone's characteristic translucency and soft, matte surface finish. The figure is mounted on an integral circular base. The underside of the base shows coarse tool marks from the carving process and a circular brown oxidation stain. 16 x 6 x 6 inches.