A superb Victorian electrotype shield by the celebrated Birmingham firm Elkington & Co., after the renowned French sculptor Léonard Morel-Ladeuil. This appears to be patinated copper with a bronze patina. Designed by the celebrated French sculptor Léonard Morel-Ladeuil and signed “Morel-Ladeuil Fecit 1866,” the original Milton Shield was created for Elkington & Co. and exhibited at the 1867 Exposition Universelle in Paris, where it attracted international acclaim and contributed to Elkington’s award of the Grand Prize for artistic metalwork and electrotype production. The present example is an authentic nineteenth-century Elkington electrotype produced from that celebrated model under the auspices of the Department of Science & Art.

The images represent Milton’s Paradise Lost. The central high-relief medallion depicts Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden receiving the Archangel Raphael, telling them about the war in heaven between God and Satan. At the top center of the shield is an image representing God. Below center is the image of the Archangel Michael casting Satan into hell. The panel on the left depicts the angels in heaven and the panel on the right the lost souls in hell. This example is signed “Morel-Ladeuil Fecit 1866” on the lower left and “Elkington & Co.” on the lower right. This example retains its original ebonized wooden frame with a folding display easel, making it equally suitbale for tabletop or wall display. An old collector’s label remains on the reverse of the easel. On the reverse is a Royal seal which reads “Department of Science and Art, Elkington V&R.”

Elkington’s electrotypes are recognized as masterpieces of Victorian metalwork, and examples are held in major museum collections, including the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Condition: Very good antique condition with an attractive aged patina. Minor age-related wear to the wooden frame consistent with its age. The easel stand is sturdy and fully functional. The dimensions of the sight area of the shield are 33.75” x 25.75” and with wooden frame measures approximately 38.75” x 31.75”.

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