Sculptures
Works in Wood. Many of King's wooden pieces are lost, due to weather and woodworm, but those that remain show his gifts with the material, acclaimed by critics in the `50s as `vigorous' and `full of understanding of its possibilities.' The selection of works shown below cover the period from art college to maturity.
PEK150W
64 x 10 x 7
PEK059W
74 x 32 x 22
PEK151W
43 x 23 x 6
PEK002W
139 x 67 x 39
PEK057W
57 x 29 x 38
The back of this large wooden sculpture is typical of King's treatment. The backs of his sculptures were greatly simplified, and although they were finished and expressive in their own way, he usually reserved the dramatic and creative detail for the front views. King was criticised for this `flatness' in his work, but, for whatever creative reason, it became his trademark.
PEK 003W 104 x 45 x 40 cm
Bronze and other metals: King built his own foundry at the Abbey Art Centre for casting in bronze and other metals. He used the lost wax method extensively, and a few uncast wax originals remain.
PEK136M 11 x 25 x 4 cm
This small bronze, known as `Hound' is currently in the Arts Council collection. It may have been made at the time of the 13 Cantos in which case it could be the hound of hell.
PEK021M 14 x 56 x 5 cm
King produced a number of boats in metal (this one is bronze) and wood, and about six monotypes survive with boat motifs. Versions of this boat appear in the 13 Cantos.
PEK 140M
22 x 10 x 5
PEK 126M
28 x 11 x 2
PEK 062M
30 x 13 x 6
PEK 026M
30 x 67 x 2
Works in Stone and Cement. King had an extensive apprenticeship in all forms of sculpture, particularly stone, through his work for Guidici the monumental stonemasons and for Henry Moore. As King later pursued the concept of `action painting' translated into sculpture he turned more to plaster and cement composites for the speed of realisation that these media could afford to his prolific imagination. (Thrown molten aluminium was also used for the same reasons: see Miniatures section.)
PEK 130C
46 x 61 x 3
PEK 042C
45 x 20 x 22
PEK 131C
42 x 21 x 3
PEK 049C
51 x 30 x 12
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