Lot Essay
This stand for a candelabrum or flower-vase has a palm-wrapped 'vase' with ribbon-tied ram masks that relates to candelabra designed by Robert Adam, such as those listed at Osterley Park, Middlesex in 1782 (M. Tomlin, Catalogue of Adam Period Furniture, London, 1982, p. 19, no. B/2). It also relates to a pair of torchères attributed to John Linnell, cabinet-maker and upholsterer of Berkeley Square, that was almost certainly supplied to Jeffery, 1st Lord Amherst (d. 1787). The Amherst torchères have a waisted stiff-leaf carved stem to their tops which closely relates to the main stem of this stand. The Amherst torchères were sold from the collection of the late Earl Amherst, M.C., in these Rooms, 18 November 1993, lot 168.
A related torchère, in the manner of John Linnell, was offered by an institution, in these Rooms, 2 February 1995, lot 91 and a pair of torchères was sold from the collection of the late Lord Samuel of Wych Cross, Sotheby's London, 17 November 1989, lot 13.
A related torchère, in the manner of John Linnell, was offered by an institution, in these Rooms, 2 February 1995, lot 91 and a pair of torchères was sold from the collection of the late Lord Samuel of Wych Cross, Sotheby's London, 17 November 1989, lot 13.