Chamberlain Fountain, by J. H. Chamberlain (1831-1883. 1880. Chamberlain Square, Birmingham. Carving by Samuel Barfield of Leicester (1830-1887).
The fountain commemorates the mayoralty of Joseph Chamberlain, one of Birmingham's most influential figures — not related to the architect. Described as a "High Victorian combination of strong primitive masses, influenced by medieval reliquaries," with a "belfry-like main storey with steep gables ... set straight on a tall base with massive clasping buttresses" and a "spire with lucarnes and bristling crockets" (Foster 91), it is seen here from two sides. The picture on the left shows Thomas Woolner's medallion of Chamberlain. The one on the right shows an edge of Birmingham's neo-classical Town Hall. The mosaics in the arches are said to be of aquatic plants (again, Foster 91).
Photographs, caption, and commentary by Jacqueline Banerjee, 2011. [You may use these images without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite it in a print one.]
Sources
Foster, Andy. Birmingham. Pevsner Architectural Guides. New Haven & London: Yale University Press, 2005. Print.
Sculptures in Stratford upon Avon (contains a short biography of Samuel Barfield). Cotswolds.Info. Web. 25 August 2012.
Last modified 29 August 2012