The fool at the Jardin des Tuileries, Paris, France

myminifactory

The Crowd is a renowned work of art created by British sculptor Raymond Mason, who resided in Paris. This masterpiece was crafted between 1963 and 1967, then installed in the beautiful gardens of the Tuileries in 2000. The sculpture showcases numerous characters in bronze, captivating onlookers with its intricate details. Raymond Grieg Mason OBE was a highly skilled sculptor who honed his craft at prestigious institutions such as the Birmingham School of Arts and Crafts under William Bloye's guidance, the Royal College of Art for one term, and the esteemed Slade School of Art. Since 1946, he has called Paris home, where he continued to work on his captivating sculptures. Mason is particularly famous for his dense crowds made from clay, which can be seen in iconic locations like McGill College Avenue in Montreal, the Tuileries in Paris, Georgetown in Washington, D.C., and Madison Avenue in New York. Mason's 1991 piece, Forward!, installed in Birmingham's Centenary Square, sparked controversy and was ultimately destroyed by arson on April 17, 2003. The statue cleverly incorporated a DNA reference ("the secret of life") in tribute to Maurice Wilkins, who had ties to the University of Birmingham. This remarkable object is part of the groundbreaking "Scan The World" initiative, launched by MyMiniFactory as a non-profit endeavor. Through this innovative project, a comprehensive digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the globe is being created for public access at no cost. Scan The World is an open-source community effort; if you have unique items that could be part of this collection, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can contribute.