Lot 77: After Johan Peter Molin, Swedish (1814-1873) A 19th century ivory group of the Knife Fighters Bältespännarna

Bältespännarna
the two men tied together with one belt, fighting with a dagger, on an oval naturalistic base, raised on a later ebonised plinth, the ivory 14.5cm high, 19.5cm high overall

Johan Peter Molin was trained in Copenhagen under the medallist Christen Christensen, and then in Rome. He returned to Sweden in 1853 and became court sculptor, producing numerous tomb monuments, medals and portrait busts.

The original marble version of this group is in the Bältespännarparken, Gothenburg. It was placed there in 1914 and the park took its name from the piece. It was also reproduced by the Gustafsberg company in the 19th century in white biscuit porcelain, and there is an example of this type in the Lady Lever Art Gallery, Port Sunlight.