•WALENTY PYTEL (b.1941): "SILVER JUBILEE FOUNTAIN COMMONWEALTH BEASTS"

•WALENTY PYTEL (b.1941): "SILVER JUBILEE FOUNTAIN COMMONWEALTH BEASTS", sculpture modelled as six commonwealth beasts surmounted by a gilt crown, 84cm high. Provenance: Sir Edward Dillon Lott du Cann (1924-2017) This sculpture was originally commissioned by the members of parliament and department of environment c.1977. The original still stands underneath Big Ben in New Palace Yard at the Houses of Parliament. The Rt. Hon. Sir Edward du Cann K.B.E. was one of the most influential public figures of the second half of the twentieth century in British life. In politics, he served as Member of Parliament for Taunton for over thirty years, was the youngest ever Chairman of the Conservative Party, the longest serving Chairman of the powerful 1922 Committee, was instrumental in bringing Margaret Thatcher to power and was a Privy Councillor. In business, he was Chairman of Lonrho PLC and was known as the 'Father of the modern Unit Trust Industry'