Pelican Life Insurance
I cannot WAIT for the opening of the London Museum Smithfield, on 28 November – and I dearly hope this magnificent Coade stone work will be on display, as it was in the Museum of London (pictured).
This over-door figure group comes from the Pelican Life Insurance Office, formerly on Cornhill in the City of London. Pelican was a part of Phoenix Fire Insurance.
The sculpting is impressive, but the design is curious. Alison Kelly, writing in Mrs Coade’s Stone, describes it as ‘…a Roman Centurian calming some distraught ladies who are presumably widows being told that their claims would be met by the Company.’
I do like the pelican, and the rather grumpy seated youth.
The engraving of this work was the frontispiece of Coade’s Gallery Guide.
Pelicans historically have been used to symbolise charity, family protection and financial security.