Since 1793
Geoffrey Chaucer
This key figure in our Canterbury Tales Collection is originally modelled on an early portrait belonging to the Sackville family at Knowle in Kent. Sculptor and Ceramicist Tony Bennett created Chaucer as a larger figure than the rest of the figures in this series, visualising him as “The Puppet Master” pulling the strings of his Canterbury Tales Pilgrims.
Geoffrey Chaucer was an important civil servant at the court of King Richard 11 and was responsible for the building of Westminster Hall – a great medieval building still used for the Lying in State of the Monarch and some notable Statesmen.
Chaucer is also decorated within the same tight colour palette of the Canterbury Collection, cobalt, terracotta, warm earthy brown and soft green.