Roseberys London
Lot 3
A silver sculpture: Frankel Winning the 2000 Guineas. Charlie Langton, London, 2016. *ARRThe limited edition sculpture depicting Frankel at full stretch, galloping up the final straight to win the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in 2011, the horse modelled mid-stride, with front legs raised, the off hind flat to the ground and the near hind lifting off, the flat and polished rectangular silver base signed Charlie Langton, 2015, 1/3, raised on a shallow rectangular bronze baseplate, base 11.1cm wide, 100.5cm long, sculpture 39.5cm high. Footnotes: This impressive sculpture of Frankel winning the 20000 Guineas by Charlie Langton is a limited edition (1/3) in sterling silver, and is currently the only one of its kind in existence today (at the time of auction the remaining two editions have not been produced). It was commissioned by The Osborne Studio Gallery in 2016 at the request of Juddmonte (the international thoroughbred horse racing and breeding enterprise founded by the late Prince Khalid bin Abdullah). The sculpture depicts the Juddmonte-owned Frankel winning the race by an unprecedented margin, a feat symbolised by the metre-long base. The victory was described as ‘one of the greatest performances in British horseracing history’ and earned Frankel a place in racing’s history books.This sculpture is of particular significance since Charlie Langton is one of only two sculptors ever to have been granted access to sculpt Frankel. In studying the 10-time Group One winner for this work, Charlie observed Frankel closely, noting that he had a unique stride length and cadence to his gallop, which enabled him to cruise effortlessly past his rivals. He sought to convey this quality in this sculpture, which shows Frankel at full stretch as he galloped up the finishing strait at Newmarket to win by six lengths. Charlie explains that his ‘ambition with every work is to sculpt the character, the presence, the movement and the likeness of the horse so that fleeting spark of excitement, passion and beauty can endure’. Frankel Winning the 2000 Guineas captures the spirit and power of a legendary horse and an iconic moment in racing history.Charlie Langton has sculpted many of racing’s greatest equine stars including Sadler’s Wells, Montjeu, Galileo, Goldikova, Giant’s Causeway, Fastnet Rock and Yeats. His works can be seen at racecourses across the UK – including a life-sized bronze of Yeats in the parade ring at Ascot – and are held in numerous private collections. In 2017 he completed a 20% over life-size mare and foal for Newmarket Racecourse, which was given to Her Majesty The Queen by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and Her Highness Princess Haya and The Newmarket Commemoration Committee. A smaller bronze maquette (1 of 12 by Langton and Etienne Miller) of the life-sized sculpture sold at Tattersalls in 2022 for a six-figure sum. In the summer of 2023 Charlie received a very special commission from Queen Elizabeth II to sculpted her beloved Fell pony, Emma. Important commissions by Charlie Langton: A bronze sculpture of Emma for Queen Elizabeth II.A bronze sculpture of Nevis for the Duchess of York.A bronze sculpture of Stradivarius for Bjorn Nielson.Kempton Park Racecourse: a 5% over-life size bronze of Kauto Star.Ascot Racecourse: a 10% over life-size bronze of Yeats at Ascot Racecourse.Commission for HM the Queen’s 90th Birthday, Newmarket, : a 20% over life-size bronze of Mare and Foal. The Jockey Club, Newmarket: a 1/3 life-size bronze of Long Run Jumping with Sam Waley-Cohen. The Investec Epsom Derby Trophy. Condition Report: The London Assay Office recorded the silver weight of this sculpture as 7700g. Please note that this does not include the weight of the bronze baseplate.