Mauretania Restaurant Sculpture of White Horses - by sculptor Anthea Wynne

[Waverley]

1994 Commissioned by Cunard Steamship Company : WHITE HORSES, cast fourfold in aluminium resin for the centrepiece of the Caronia restaurant in the cruise ship Queen Elizabeth ll.

http://www.althea-wynne-sculptor.com/Albumdone/pages/White%20Horses_jpg.htm

[cunardqueen]

For what its worth, l always thought this was a most hideous object and took up a lot of space that could have been better used for an extra table or something.. anyway thats only my view.. what did anybody else think of it???
(in saying all that it would be great to see just one more time...)

< old dead image link removed >

Taken during the BAP

[Michael Gallagher]

Originally it was to have water splashing about at the base but it soon became apparant that the diners on the surrounding tables would be soaked if the ship suddenly lurched so the water equipment was never installed.

[Louis De Sousa]

I never really never liked that centerpiece, it just didnt fit.

[cunardqueen]

  Originally it was to have water splashing about at the base but it soon became apparant that the diners on the surrounding tables would be soaked if the ship suddenly lurched so the water equipment was never installed.   

OMG just when you think it couldnt get any worse, It wasnt a thing l studied very much but if Cunard had water in there would anyone have been aware there was water splashing about the base, Had they considered a mini fountain as well, any passers by could have chucked money in for good luck

 Can you imagine any newcomers on sailing night sitting close to there,drinking fine wines enjoying a lovely meal and then they pick up on the sound of splashing water....

Any idea of the weight of this thing? In fact l hate to admit it but in all the times l dined in the Mauretania this thing  objet d'art was never given a second glance and its beauty never cropped up in any conversation, and the more l think about the more l realise that l never knew what it was...   

Flagship, What did you think of this work of art? And did you ever dine in Mauretania, l always seemed to see you in the other place .

[Michael Gallagher]

I ate in there many times and actually didn't mind White Horses. When installed - and the room was the first class Caronia - it fitted in quite well with the horse theme of the Crystal Bar, which is what it was supposed to do. It was that awful carpet I objected to. And the Baked Alaska Parade!

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Originally it was to have water splashing about at the base but it soon became apparant that the diners on the surrounding tables would be soaked if the ship suddenly lurched so the water equipment was never installed.

Well, it never struck me at the time! But looking at this picture, one can see where the water was meant to be!



https://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/3107815513/

I never liked it either -- and might well have disliked it a lot more if I had been dining right beside it!

The link with all the horses in the Crystal Bar makes sense...

[Mauretania1907]

  My goodness, when was THAT aboard? It looks like it would grace a Carnival cruise ship!

[cunardqueen]

I cant believe l never noticed the recess in the ceiling either...
In fact the more l see this particular photo Isabelle the more l realise how much l never saw this object.
And to think l used to always sit within 20 or so feet of this...

[Keith Walters]

I cant believe l never noticed the recess in the ceiling either...
In fact the more l see this particular photo Isabelle the more l realise how much l never saw this object.
And to think l used to always sit within 20 or so feet of this...

My table was not too far from this sculpture either, however it wasn't really 'in my face', as I looked more in another direction.
Cheers,
Keith.

[Brandon Sterkel]

Back a few years ago when I met a passenger from the QE2. She pointed out to me that this sculpture was right behind her seat!

[Twynkle]

'Once upon a time' - we sat nearby too!
The horses were a reminder of the statue, 'The Horses of Helios', part of a great fountain (1992) between Piccadilly Circus and the Haymarket in London's West End.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/41845311@N06/4451170233
 

[cunardqueen]

The top photo shows the Wild West Wet Horses , Breakfast on the last day of the Final Eastbound crossing as we arrived in Southampton, The fact it was a gloomy day, the Sculpture sure didnt help our mood.  And some other pics of this hideous thing in situ, ignore the people in the pics, and i cant believe they had this as a back drop on one of the official photos..

  It was that awful carpet I objected to. And the Baked Alaska Parade!
   

Oh dear Flagship, are we not a fan of the BAP...

[Rob Lightbody]

Do we have any more information about this?

[Twynkle]

Hello Rob

There is sad news regarding the artist, Althea Wynne and her husband were both killed in a car accident in 2012.

I'll do my best in trying to find 'news' of the sculptures - we sat next to them!
It could well be that  Project Manager, as well as a Curator fort the Artwork Collection are already appointed, and an Inventory may well list these horses as well as their whereabouts.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Althea_Wynne
R.