‘Queen of Mercia’ – England - Atlas Obscura

‘Queen of Mercia’

This surreal sculpture depicts Queen Æthelflæd as a figurehead attached to the skeletal hulk of a boat. 

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A steel fabricated skeletal boat form with a cast bronze figurehead. The theme is the Saxon queen of Mercia, Aethelflaed. The skeleton boat structure comprises one large, upturned arc with three semi-circular ribs connected at right angles to it and an oval band linking the top of the ribs and joining the longitudinal arc two thirds up its height at either end. The front of the main arc is topped by a female head, Ethelfleda, with long hair streaming behind her. The plaster original for the figurehead was made by the artist with the sculptor Diane Gorvin. The casting was done by Castle Fine Arts Foundry and the steel boat frame was fabricated by Oldroyd Bros. Ltd. This was done via Phil’s detailed design, technical drawings and maquette, and attendance at their works.

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