Royston’s history will be celebrated at the Hertfordshire town’s first ever Hanson Ross auction thanks to a discovery connected to one of its most famous sons.
An elegant sculpture by 19th century anatomical modeller Joseph Towne is set to go under the hammer at the firm’s inaugural sale on August 4. The marble bust, which depicts the head and shoulders of a young boy, has an estimate of £500-£800. It is inscribed to the reverse ‘J TOWNE Sculp, Guy’s Hospital, 1838’.
Amanda Butler, Head of Operations at Hanson Ross, said: “It’s a beautiful sculpture and a wonderful find. It came in at our weekly public valuation events held in Woburn. I’m delighted we’re able to celebrate the town’s history and heritage at our first sale.”
“Joseph Towne was born 217 years ago but his work it is still used for teaching today. He is best known for pioneering the creation of anatomical wax models, many of which are displayed at a medical museum at Guy’s Hospital in London. He was also highly skilled in the art of moulage, the creation of rather gruesome mock injuries to aid medical training.
“But he was a sculptor, too, and his bust of a young boy with gentle facial expression demonstrates a very different side to one of Royston’s most famous sons. I hope we can find it a perfect new home. It would be wonderful to see it on public display.”
Royston-born Joseph Towne (1806-1879) was the youngest of five surviving children. His father was a preacher at a local chapel. He was apprenticed to an artist and spent two years as an assistant sculptor.
At 17 he began work on a major project, the construction of a wax skeleton, even though he had never seen a real one. He worked from books and, keen to be accurate, asked London doctors to examine it. They could not tell him if it was correct but his skeleton took second place in a Society of Arts competition in 1825. The following year, his wax sculpture of a head dissection won first prize and Towne was offered a job at Guy’s Hospital.
Towne worked as a wax modeller at Guy’s for 53 years. He was a secretive, self-taught individual, and the finer points of his technique died with him. Before his death he completed 537 wax models. He also created around 1,000 moulages for Guy’s and a further 200 moulages for India and the United States.
Amanda said: “Though Towne mainly used his creative skills to depict skin diseases, dissections or injuries to aid medical training, he was not averse to creating classical sculptures. As well as the one uncovered in Woburn, he made an equestrian statue of the Duke of Kent for Buckingham Palace.”
The Joseph Town sculpture will be offered on August 4 at the inaugural auction at Hanson Ross Royston Auction Centre, Unit 1 The Power House, Lumen Road, Royston, Hertfordshire. Catalogue/bidding: www.hansonslive.co.uk or www.the-saleroom.com.
Hanson Ross offers antique and jewellery valuation events in Woburn, Royston, Hitchin and Berkhamsted. To find out more visit www.hansonsross.com or call 01763 430 042.
Valuation and Consignment days
- Woburn – The Woburn Hotel, 1 George Street, Woburn MK17 9PX. Every Wednesday 10am – 1pm
- Royston – Hanson Ross, Unit 1, Lumen Road, Royston SG8 7AG. Every Friday 10am – 1pm
- Hitchin – Stonegate Estates, Hermitage Road, Hitchin SG5 1BY. Third Tuesday of the month 10am – 1pm
- Berkhamsted – The Kings Arms, 147 High Street, Berkhamsted HP4 3HL. Fourth Tuesday of the month 10am – 4pm
