South of the River

'South of the River', 1975-76, by Bernard Schottlander.

MATERIALS: the sculptures (a pair) are cast in stainless steel. They stand balanced upon stainless steel projecting legs and a central base, set into concrete paving slabs.

DESCRIPTION: The sculpture 'South of the River' comprises a pair of corresponding organic forms, representative of a pair of Fulani earrings with their twisted designs and sweeping curves. They are set close together on a 6m wide rectangular paved area surrounded by a grass lawn of a rectangular garden terrace on the front façade of Becket House, a 1974 office block. The sculptures, which both measure 4.8m in height, are identical in size and form but vary in their positioning. The two central 'curves' of both forms face west and east respectively, with the single larger 'curves', which measure approximately 3m in width, facing each other.

A raked block constructed of polished granite (similar in colour to the building façade and low surrounding wall), is set on the north-west corner of the lawn in front of the sculpture. Affixed are two steel plaques inscribed in black capital letters. The canted north (facing the road) and west faces are identically inscribed:

"SOUTH OF THE RIVER"/ BY BERNARD SCHOTTLANDER - 1976/ BORN MAINZ GERMANY 1924 - CAST BY BRITISH STEEL.

A metal plaque fixed to the inner face of the stainless steel leg of the western-most sculpture reads:

DISTILLERY, BREWERY & CHEMICAL ENGINEERS/ JOHN DORE & CO.LTD/ STAINLESS STEEL FABRICATORS & COPPERSMITHS/ FOWLER ROAD, HAINAULT, ILFORD, ESSEX, ENGLAND/ 14 MARCH 1976.