Ferdinand Victor Blundstone

Ferdinand Victor Blundstone (1882–1951) was a Swiss-born sculptor who worked in England. His father was Charles Blundstone, an India rubber merchant who was born in Manchester, England.

Career When Blundstone established himself as a sculptor, he had studios in London and in 1907 moved to Stamford Bridge Studios. Around 1907, he had a studio at Clifton Hill Studio. He lived in Manchester around 1908. In 1918 he moved to St. John's Wood. London was his home from around 1919 until his death in 1951. Folkestone War Memorial

Folkestone, Kent The Folkestone War stands in The Leas area of Folkestone in Kent and was unveiled on 1 December 1922 by the Earl of Radnor. A bronze figure representing "Motherhood" holds in one hand a pole with a flag at half mast and a cross. A victory laurel is raised in her other hand. She sits on a stone pedestal.

The inscription reads:

"TO OUR GLORIOUS DEAD / MAY THESE/DEEDS BE / HELD IN / REVERENCE" Gnome Monument, Bowring Park St John's, Newfoundland Blundstone was responsible for the "Gnome" Monument on top of the Connaught Stone. Jacob Wrestling with the Angel The date of this work is unknown. The Plimsoll Line Memorial

Victoria Embankment, London This memorial stands at the Westminster end of the Victoria Embankment and Blundstone was commissioned to do the work by the National Union of Seamen. The memorial was unveiled on 21 August 1929 by Sir Walter Runciman. The "Order of Ceremonial" declared that the memorial was erected by the Members of the National Union of Seamen as a thanks offering to Samuel Plimsoll for his successful efforts in having the Plimsoll Load line, which prevented overloading of cargo, placed on all British ships. Plimsoll became known as "the Sailors' Friend". The piece includes "Justice" represented in the form of a woman and a seaman, both holding wreaths. The Prudential War Memorial

Holborn, London This memorial dates to 1922 and remembers the employees of Prudential Assurance who laid down their lives in the First World War. A second memorial just nearby remembers those who died in the 1939–1945 conflict. Lewis Carroll majolica panels, St Mary's Hospital Paddington, London Blundstone was responsible for majolica panels in the Lewis Carroll Memorial Ward at this hospital. The Stalybridge War Memorial

Stalybridge, Tameside This memorial to the men of Stalybridge was unveiled on 6 November 1921 and Blundstone was responsible for the bronze groupings of dying soldiers and sailors being comforted by angels. Tiger at Bay This was made in collaboration with Herbert Thomas Dicksee in 1905. Titanic Engineers' Memorial, Southampton

Andrew's Park, Southampton Blundstone created a memorial of Aberdeen granite, funded by world-wide donations by merchant marine engineers, to the engineers of the Titanic who perished on its fateful night. Featured on the memorial is the figure of Glory, her hands reaching out with a laurel wreath to the struggling men below in the Titanic engine room. The and memorial, designed by Joseph Whitehead, is situated on a "gentle crescent" in a corner of Andrew's Park. It was unveiled on 22 April 1914. Wendy statue (Peter Pan) Hāwera, New Zealand This sculpture, one of his final works, was made for Hāwera's King Edward Park. It was completed with the assistance of Gilbert Bayes.

Professional associations Blundstone was a member of the following associations: 1919–1951 – Member of Royal Society of British Sculptors 1921–1923 – Member of council Royal Society of British Sculptors 1924–1931 – Member of Art Workers' Guild 1926–1951 – Fellow of Royal Society of British Sculptors 1935–1936 – Member of council Royal Society of British Sculptors

Exhibits and competitions Blundstone exhibitions entries include portraits, statues, trophies and war memorials: 1903 – 'Tiger at Bay' shown at the Corporation of Manchester Art Gallery, Twenty-First Autumn Exhibition 1907 – Jacob Wrestling with the Angel was shown at Corporation of Manchester Art Gallery, Twenty-Fifth Autumn Exhibition 1907–1944 – at The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts (Summer Exhibition) 1908 – Multiple works exhibited at Leeds City Art Gallery, The Spring Exhibition 1916 – Design for a Garden Figure shown at Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society: Eleventh Exhibition 1925 – For his garden sculpture, he won the Paris Exhibition's silver medal. 1927 – The age of imagination was shown at The Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, The One-Hundred-and-First

His competition attendance included: 1904 – Landseer Scholarships (Royal Academy of Arts) (Won) 1907 – Landseer Scholarships (Royal Academy of Arts) (Won) 1920 – Folkestone Memorial Competition (Folkestone Council), 1920 (Won) 1931–1932 – Memorial for Animals, for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Royal Society of British Sculptors) (Participant, awarded £20)