Lot Essay
These golden sphere-mirrored sconces with Roman 'bronze' eagles are designed in the early 19th Century antique manner popularised by Thomas Sheraton's Cabinet Dictionary of 1803 and George Smith's Collection of Designs for Household Furniture and Interior Decoration of 1808. Roman-acanthus wreaths their water-reeded borders, provides palm-flowered brackets, and embellishes their 'altar' finials. The latter's dolphin-scales recall Venus's triumph, while their sphere-guarding eagles symbolise the sky god Jupiter.
Inscribed by Arthur Williams and the date 1807, these sconces also bear the label of the Dublin carver and gilder Richard Jackson (1786-1827), whose celebrated 'looking-glass warehouse' at 5 Essex Bridge had been established in George II's reign. His label is also recorded on a pair of sconces in the collection of Hugh Massy, Esq., at Stoneville, Co. Limerick (The Knight of Glin, 'Dublin Directories and Trade Labels', Furniture History, 1985, p. 267 and fig. 14). It is thought most likely that Arthur Williams was a craftsman working for Jackson and probably a member of the family that later became Mack, Williams and Gibton (unpublished information).
Inscribed by Arthur Williams and the date 1807, these sconces also bear the label of the Dublin carver and gilder Richard Jackson (1786-1827), whose celebrated 'looking-glass warehouse' at 5 Essex Bridge had been established in George II's reign. His label is also recorded on a pair of sconces in the collection of Hugh Massy, Esq., at Stoneville, Co. Limerick (The Knight of Glin, 'Dublin Directories and Trade Labels', Furniture History, 1985, p. 267 and fig. 14). It is thought most likely that Arthur Williams was a craftsman working for Jackson and probably a member of the family that later became Mack, Williams and Gibton (unpublished information).