Thuner

myminifactory

The regally-attired figure, seated in a commanding pose with feet placed firmly on the lower step, exudes an air of authority. Dressed in long robes draped elegantly over the shoulder, the god's head is turned to his left, echoing the powerful stance of Michelangelo's iconic Moses. The base of the statue bears a thunderbolt and the god's name, Thuner, inscribed in runic characters. Thuner, the mighty god of thunder, was one of seven Saxon deities brought to life by Rysbrack for Lord Cobham's garden at Stowe, located in Buckinghamshire. Each Saxon god was intricately linked with a day of the week, and Thuner, the most powerful among them, held sway over Thursday. Originally positioned in an open grove around an altar, by 1744 the statues were repositioned within the Gothic Temple of Liberty, designed by William Kent. This strategic move integrated the Saxon deities into the garden's underlying political theme, reflecting Lord Cobham's allegiance to the ideals of those Whigs who had broken away from Sir Robert Walpole. As such, the Saxon gods symbolize an ancient British identity and embody the ideals of a bygone era. The figure of Thuner reappeared in 1984 after being absent for over 60 years, having previously been situated in a Hampshire garden. This object is part of "Scan The World," a non-profit initiative launched by MyMiniFactory, which aims to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the globe. Scan The World is an open-source community effort that invites contributions from individuals with interesting items they'd like to share. The Victoria and Albert Museum in London has graciously provided this object for public access through Scan The World.