Focus on this artwork and discuss the Description.
The sundial sculpture is a black, polychromed cast-lead statue. It depicts a life-size kneeling figure of an African man wearing a feathered loincloth and holding a stone and brass sundial on his head. The figure's eyes are painted white with blue pupils, and the loincloth is painted blue and green. It dates from the 18th century and has been attributed to Andries Carpentière (1677–1737). It is thought that it was cast after a model by Jan van Nost (c.1660-1711-13) which was installed in 1701 in the Privy Garden of Hampton Court Palace. It was probably commissioned by George Booth, 2nd Earl of Warrington (1675-1758). 
The figure has been categorised as an example of a tradition in western art history called the "blackamoor", a personification of the continent of Africa, and as an anonymous ‘kneeling slave’. The blackamoor caricatures appeared in a wide range of arts including sculpture, painting, architectural decoration, ceramics, silverware and furniture, and generally depicted a generic black person in exoticised costume and posted in a servile position, holding an object.Close to the sculpture was a plaque containing the words: “This sundial is in the style of one commissioned by King William III. It represents Africa, one of four continents known at the time. The figure depicts a Moor, not a slave, and he has knelt here since before 1750.”
Africa sundial polychromed slave loincloth Hampton Court Palace blackamoor Jan van Nost lead Andries Carpentière George Booth, 2nd Earl of Warrington