Pair of Orientalist terracotta busts by Thiele

The sculptures are of bust format, and depict a Nubian couple. The woman is young and beautiful, and she wears a piece of drapery across her shoulders, which slips down to reveal her breasts. She lowers her eyes to the ground, and has a thoughtful expression on her face. The man is older and he is bearded. His face is lifted upwards, and he gazes off to the right. Both figures are dressed in yellow-coloured draped clothing and striped headdresses, and their skin painted a deep brown. The busts are placed on brown waisted plinths, with square bases.

‘A. Mereller’ is inscribed onto the male figure, and the female is signed ‘Thiele’, for Rudolf Thiele. Thiele was a German sculptor, active in late 19^th-early 20^th Century. He created several versions of this North African woman, as well as designing other Orientalist sculptures. This pair has been exquisitely modelled in terracotta and finely hand-painted.