A Coade stone model of a Tiger

Something out of the ordinary. Of recent manufacture by Stephen Pettifer, Coade Ltd, after the design by John Bacon of Coade (1733-1821), the tiger or possibly more a young male lion, is seated and raised on a rectangular base inscribed ‘Coade 2017’. Eleanor Coade (1733–1821) was a pioneering 18th-century businesswoman who developed and manufactured “Coade stone,” a highly durable, weatherproof artificial stone.

Her work can be seen in numerous locations, including St Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, and the Nelson Pediment at the Old Royal Naval College. Eleanor Coade’s artificial stone is widely recognized for both its existence and its ubiquitous use.

Today Stephen Pettifer has used the same recipe and scale as in the original design. The original design is illustrated in the book of Coade’s etchings, which correspond to those listed in the 1784 Decorative Catalogue of Coade’s Artificial Stone Manufactory: Section 1, Statues, p4, no 59, Tiger £8/8/0d’A period version of this model, by repute from Alton Towers, sold at Christie’s 20th June.