Garden vases
Christopher Hobbs
Category
Art / Sculpture
Date
1979
Materials
Stone
Measurements
1910 mm (H)1220 mm (H)
Order this imageCollection
Nymans Estate, West Sussex
NT 1206740
Summary
Memorial to Oliver Messel, created by his sister Anne, Countess of Rosse. Classical marble urn on pedestal inscribed 'Oliver 1904-1977' on northern side and 'Vagn 1906-1972' on southern.
Full description
Oliver Messel died in Barbados in 1978. His body was returned to Nymans for cremation and his sister Anne Rosse commissioned Christopher Hobbs to create a memorial in the garden at Nymans. There is correspondence in the archive at Nymans dated October 1979 relating to the design of the memorial. The urn was bought from Crowthers (probably Albert Crowther, who established a branch of his family antiques business in 1943 known as 'Crowther of Syon Lodge', selling architectural and garden antiques until 2002) and the pedestal was created by Hobbs and Andrew Marshall using ‘old stone’ from Nymans. The position in the Wall Garden was chosen by Anne.The ashes of Oliver's long-term partner, Vagn Riis-Hansen, are buried together with Oliver's beneath the urn. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Vagn's death and fulfil the wishes of the Messel family, in 2022 Vagn's name was added to the memorial by Cliveden Conservation (carved by Gary Churchman).
Provenance
Commissioned by Anne, Countess of Rosse, in 1979 for the Wall Garden at Nymans.
Makers and roles
Christopher Hobbs, maker