Opossum Gargoyle

Opossum Gargoyle

animal, cast, Commemorative Courtyard, gargoyle, medieval architecture, memorial, Melbourne, model, opossum, ornamentation, plaster cast, Ray Ewers, sandstone, war, war memorial, water, William Leslie Bowles.

This plaster model for a gargoyle depicts the face of an opossum. The plaster model was created in the studio of William Leslie Bowles in Melbourne with the assistance of sculptor, Ray Ewers. In 1940 and 1941 the plaster cast was used as the template for a stonemason to carve an in-situ sandstone gargoyle in the cloisters of the Commemorative Courtyard of the Australian War Memorial. This plaster cast has a hole in the mouth of the opossum for a spout. Gargoyles were a common feature in medieval architecture. They were used to divert running water away from buildings before drainpipes became commonplace.

Bowles, William Leslie (Artist);
Ewers, Raymond Boultwood (Cast by)

Australian War Memorial

Australian War Memorial

1939

Australian War Memorial

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