Carl Payne

CARL PAYNE (England, 1969–2021).
“Pair of Magicians.”
Cold-enameled bronze and marble.
Signed and numbered.
Measurements: 49 x 32 x 10 cm; 47 x 22 x 10 cm.
A sculptural composition featuring two figures of jugglers, conceived in a classically inspired figurative style with a keen attention to detail. The work is part of the tradition of contemporary decorative figurative sculpture, in which technical virtuosity and the expressiveness of the figures play a central role.
Carl Payne was a British sculptor born in Staffordshire, known for his figurative bronze works and his public sculpture commissions. He trained at the Burslem School of Art, the Henry Doulton School of Sculpture, and Stafford College, where he specialized in figurative sculpture. His artistic style combined the classical sculptural tradition with a contemporary sensibility, influenced by Auguste Rodin, Alfred Gilbert, Charles Sargant Jagger, and the Pre-Raphaelites.
Throughout his career, he completed numerous public and private commissions, including the monument to boxer Randolph Turpin, the equestrian sculpture *Ride a Cock Horse to Banbury Cross*—unveiled by Princess Anne—and the memorial dedicated to soccer player Sir Stanley Matthews, installed next to Stoke City’s stadium. He also created sculptural portraits of historical and sports figures, such as George V and Queen Mary for the ocean liner Queen Mary 2.