A REGENCY BLACK-PAINTED COMPOSITION AND BRASS CANDELABRUM

DATED 1806, BY HUMPHREY HOPPER

Details

A REGENCY BLACK-PAINTED COMPOSITION AND BRASS CANDELABRUM
Dated 1806, by Humphrey Hopper
In the form of a classically draped female bacchante with grapevine headdress holding aloft a scrolling candlearm entwined with a serpent, with ewer and wine vase at her feet, the circular plinth inscribed Novr I 1806 H. Hopper/London, together with a later ebonized columnar stand
71in. (180.5cm.) high overall, 37in. (95cm.)high, figure

Lot Essay

The sculptor Humphrey Hopper (b. 1767) exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1799 to 1834 and was awarded the Gold Medal for his 'Death of Meleager' in 1803. His most famous work is the marble monument to General Hay in St. Paul's Cathedral which was commissioned in 1814. In addition to his marble busts and statues, Hopper produced a variety of plaster and terracotta figures after the Antique which were designed to support candelabra, lamps and clocks. Virtually identical figures dated Decr.1 1806 and signed by Hopper were sold at Christie's London, 26 April 1990, lot 13 and 21 June 1990, lot 4, respectively. A number of other figural torcheres have been sold at auction including: pairs sold Christie's London, 12 July 1990, lot 64, 13 April 1989, lot 17 and 6 July 1989, lot 142.