16th Sep, 2025 10:00
Fine Interiors
196
English School, 19th century
a portrait bust of the Rt Hon. John Inglis, Lord Glencorse (1810-1891), c.1880s, painted plaster, with head turned to sinister, depicted in Roman dress and raised on an integral waisted socle,
60cm wide
32cm deep
84cm high
Provenance: Lady Geraldine Inglis of Glencorse;
thence by descent.
This plaster portrait bust depicts The Rt Hon. John Inglis, Lord Glencorse (1810–1891), a distinguished Scottish judge and legal scholar. He served as Lord Justice General and Lord President of the Court of Session from 1867 until his death in 1891. Educated at the University of Glasgow and Balliol College, Oxford, he was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1835 and quickly rose through the legal ranks. A staunch Conservative, he held office as Solicitor General and later Lord Advocate, before his appointment to the bench. Renowned for his intellect, integrity and eloquence, he presided over many high-profile cases and helped shape 19th-century Scottish jurisprudence. In 1868, he was elected Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, a post he held until his death.
Probably executed towards the end of his life, the present work shares strong similarities with a signed marble version by Charles McBride (1853-1903), now in the collection of the University of Edinburgh. Dated 1893, McBride’s version presents a more mature likeness and was likely created in tribute to Inglis shortly after his death.
Although unsigned, this bust closely aligns with McBride’s in facial likeness, but differs notably in its use of classical Roman-style robes rather than formal Victorian dress. As previously discussed, this neoclassical approach is a hallmark of Sir John Steell, who is known to have had a connection with the Inglis family; however, no marble version of Lord Glencorse by Steell is currently known. Regardless of authorship, the sculptor here conveys a strong sense of intellect and gravitas, in keeping with Inglis’s stature as one of Victorian Scotland’s most eminent legal figures.
Take advantage of our Sworders Delivery Service. Please see 'Shipping estimate' below.
Sold for £550
Condition Report
There are several chips, knocks and scuffs to the bust. Some areas of dirt/marks. Apparently no repairs. Stands flat on a level surface.
IN PERSON
To bid in person at auction for the first time please register for a bidding paddle in advance by filling out and submitting a registration form at our front desk. When registering in person we require photo ID, such as a passport or driving licence.
ABSENTEE BIDDING
If you cannot attend the auction in person we can bid on your behalf. You can leave an absentee bid on our website.
The amount you bid should be your maximum bid. We will bid up to that limit for you, and remember you may end up paying less than your limit, depending on other bidding on the day.
You can leave an absentee bid up to half an hour before the start of any sale. Please note when we receive two or more absentee bids for the same amount, the first bid received will be the one taken.
LEAVE COMMISSION BIDS ONLINE
If you would like to leave a commission bid on our website you can do so up until 30 minutes before the sale starts. Leaving a commission bid through sworder.co.uk is free for all registered clients. Thereafter you may register bank card details under your account in order to bid live. Click here to register an account.
BID LIVE ON sworder.co.uk
You can bid live at our auctions from the comfort of your home or office using bidding platform Sworders Live. It is easy to register and you can watch the auction live as it happens. A 'Bid Live' button will appear on the auction on our website homepage when a sale is live; simply click the button to sign in or register with your card details. There is no additional charge for this service.
For further instructions on registering to bid live, please click here.
TELEPHONE BIDDING
If you would like to bid by telephone please contact our team prior to the auction with your details of the lots you are interested in and your full name, address, telephone number(s) and email address. Once our team have entered your bid request you will receive an email confirmation. We will contact you during the sale and one of our team will bid live with you over the phone.
Please note that we normally offer this service for lots with an estimate of £500 or higher and all telephone bid requests must be received by close of business the day before the auction.
Auction: Fine Interiors, 16th Sep, 2025
We are delighted to present our September Fine Interiors sale, containing a distinctive selection of pieces, all united by exceptional quality and character.
Highlights include traditional country furniture from High House, Parham, Suffolk, set among historic beams and vaulted ceilings, and an elegant Miami villa featuring a thoughtfully assembled collection in a Mediterranean Revival setting.
Also included are standout works by Linley, Soane Britain, Rose Uniacke, and HOWE London - leading voices from Pimlico Road’s design scene - alongside the third instalment of the Paolo Moschino Edit, blending original designs with antique and vintage discoveries from their archive.
Viewing
Stansted Viewing | Auction
Viewing will be held at our Stansted Auction Rooms, Cambridge Road, Stansted Mountfitchet CM24 8GE, as follows:
Friday 12 September, 10am - 4pm
Sunday 14 September, 10am - 1pm
Monday 15 September, 10am - 4pm
The auction will take place at our Stansted Auction Rooms, Cambridge Road, Stansted Mountfitchet CM24 8GE.
Please note that this item is not suitable for a pre-sale automated shipping estimate due to the items weight/size.
The below table shows indicative shipping costs for larger items being delivered within the UK mainland. Please note that all the below costs are purely for indicative purposes and are to be used as a guideline only. If you purchase multiple large items, we will combine deliveries to reduce the shipping costs.
Should you be successful in buying this item, a specific shipping estimate will need to be requested after the sale using the link in your invoice email; this also includes all requests for international delivery.
If you would like further information about shipping and collection please see here.
Buying a pre-loved, antique, or vintage item not only provides you with unique style and value for money but it also helps to reduce landfill, and the annual emissions of an antique or vintage piece can be as little as one sixteenth of those of its new equivalent!
Sworders is proud to be supporting the work of Antiques are Green - the movement that was founded in 2009 to promote “a greener future created from the past”. Read their fascinating carbon footprint study of a Georgian chest of drawers versus a modern equivalent here
Request A Valuation
Here at Sworders, we are happy to offer a free online valuation service. Please fill out the form and press the 'Submit' button below.
To help us with your valuation please attach clear photographs of the item where possible. You can submit up to 5.
Approximate dimensions are also useful. Expect to hear from the appropriate valuer as soon as possible.
