Three Staffordshire figures of Mr and Mrs O'Brien of Irish political interest, circa 1848

Three Staffordshire figures of Mr and Mrs O'Brien of Irish political interest, circa 1848 Comprising a model of William Smith O'Brien standing barefoot beside a draped pedestal, wearing a plain shirt and trousers, his hands bound with gilt handcuffs, together with a pair of figures of O'Brien and his wife, he seated bare-headed wearing a pink frock coat, his hands in shackles, she getting up from a chair, wearing a headdress and plaid skirt, the bases titled 'W. S. O'BRIEN' and 'MRs. O'BRIEN' in gilt capitals, 18-22.8cm high (3) Footnotes: William Smith O'Brien (1803-1864) was an Irish nationalist Member of Parliament and a leader of the Young Ireland movement. He was convicted of sedition and sentenced to death for his part in the Young Irelander 'Famine Rebellion' of 1848, but his sentence was later commuted to transportation to the penal colony of Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania, Australia). He married Lucy Caroline Gabbett (1811-1861) of County Limerick in 1832. Similar models of all three figures are illustrated by P D Gordon Pugh, Staffordshire Portrait Figures (1970), p.G478, figs.35-37. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing