Lot Essay
These torcheres belong to a larger group associated with the work of Robert Adams. Other documents examples were executed to Adam's designs from the 1770's under the architect/designer's aegis. The basic form was inspired by pedestals supplied by James 'Athenian' Stuart for Spencer House in London (illustrated in C. Musgrave, Adam and Hepplewhite Furniture, 1966, fig.9). Designed in the George III 'antique' manner, the torcheres are conceived as Roman 'altar' tripods with bacchic-ram monopodiae recalling the marble candelabrum preserved in the Vatican Museum (illustrated in E. Harris, The Furniture of Robert Adam, 1963, fig.77). The sides are filled with lambrequin-style drapery embellished with oval medallions of festive numphs in the Herculaneum manner, and the base guarded by addorsed griffins derives from the celebrated marble antiquity in the Capitoline Museum.
While individual examples within the group vary, all examples share the incurved tripartite form headed by lion, ram or figural heads, centered by a figural painted panel and with griffins or sphinzes to the base (the offered pair with animal supports above the base; the remaining examples with supports immediately above the plinth).
The existing group and the designs from which these are based are outlined below:
1. The offered pair was originally part a set of four. The remaining pair was sold by Langlois Limited, Auctioneers, Jersey, 25 November 1977, lot 1221 and is now on the London market. The painted panels on this set were most certainly executed by Antonio Zucchi who worked on various Adam commissions. An invoice noted below for a pair of torcheres supplied to Sir Watkin Williams Wynn would lend credence to this attribution.
2. A tripod now at Kenwood House, Hampstead, London and illustrated is M. Jourdain, English Furniture of the Later 18th Century, vol.IV, 1920, p.185., fig.291 (in the possession of Geoffrey D. Hobson at the time of publication). This tripod is identical to a design by Robert Adam dated 24 August 1773 and inscribed 'Tripod for the Drawing Room at Sir W. Wynne's (sic.) in St. Jame's Square' (Soane Museum, vol.17, no.60). The kenwood House tripod is thought to be the one supplied to St. James's Suare. The female painted figures are attributed to Antonio Zucchi. A bill from Zucchi to Sir Watkin Williams Wynn dated 26 September 1774 lists 'Drawings for 2 figures in wood for Trypods £3' (E. Harris, op.cit., 1963, p.101, no.137).
3. A pair of tripods almost certainly supplied to the Duke of Northumberland for Alnwick Castle, Northumberland (illustrated E. Harris, op.cit., fig.137). These remain at Alnwick and are identical to the design executed for Sir Watkin Williams Wynn for 20 St. James's Square (see above no.2). No designs or documents exists for this pair.
3. A pair of tripods supplied to Robert Child, Earl of Jersey for Osterley Park, Middlesex which remain at the house (illustrated M. Tomlin, op.cit.). These are listed in the 1782 inventory as 'Two exceeding elegant tripod stands richly carved and gilt in burnish gold with three Paintings and green baize Covers.' They are after a design by Robert Adam dated 13 November 1776 and inscribed 'Design of a Tripod for the Tapestry room at Osterly (sic.).' (Soane Museum, vol.17, no. 62) is reproduced in M. Tomlin, Victoria and Albert Museum Catalogue of Adam Period Furniture, 1972, p.55. no.G/3a.
4. A design by Robert Adam dated 1778 and inscribed 'Design of a Tripod for Lady Home; (Soane Museum, vol.17, no.63) is reproduced in M. Whinney, Home House: No.20 Portman Square, 1969, fig.50. It is not known whether these tripods were executed.
These torcheres are likely to have formed part of the furnishings commissioned for Hungerton Hall, Lincolnshire during its building in the early 1780's by George de Ligne Gregory (d.1822). His son, Mr. Gregory Gregory lived in the house until the completion of Harlaxton Manor in the 1830's. A sale from the collection at Christie's on 17 June 1878 describes lot 27 as a 'tripod wood pedestal, carved with three figures of griffins and painted white'. This would appear to be one of the set. The others in the set would have remained with the family and may have been included in the house sale of 28-30 June 1937.
While individual examples within the group vary, all examples share the incurved tripartite form headed by lion, ram or figural heads, centered by a figural painted panel and with griffins or sphinzes to the base (the offered pair with animal supports above the base; the remaining examples with supports immediately above the plinth).
The existing group and the designs from which these are based are outlined below:
1. The offered pair was originally part a set of four. The remaining pair was sold by Langlois Limited, Auctioneers, Jersey, 25 November 1977, lot 1221 and is now on the London market. The painted panels on this set were most certainly executed by Antonio Zucchi who worked on various Adam commissions. An invoice noted below for a pair of torcheres supplied to Sir Watkin Williams Wynn would lend credence to this attribution.
2. A tripod now at Kenwood House, Hampstead, London and illustrated is M. Jourdain, English Furniture of the Later 18th Century, vol.IV, 1920, p.185., fig.291 (in the possession of Geoffrey D. Hobson at the time of publication). This tripod is identical to a design by Robert Adam dated 24 August 1773 and inscribed 'Tripod for the Drawing Room at Sir W. Wynne's (sic.) in St. Jame's Square' (Soane Museum, vol.17, no.60). The kenwood House tripod is thought to be the one supplied to St. James's Suare. The female painted figures are attributed to Antonio Zucchi. A bill from Zucchi to Sir Watkin Williams Wynn dated 26 September 1774 lists 'Drawings for 2 figures in wood for Trypods £3' (E. Harris, op.cit., 1963, p.101, no.137).
3. A pair of tripods almost certainly supplied to the Duke of Northumberland for Alnwick Castle, Northumberland (illustrated E. Harris, op.cit., fig.137). These remain at Alnwick and are identical to the design executed for Sir Watkin Williams Wynn for 20 St. James's Square (see above no.2). No designs or documents exists for this pair.
3. A pair of tripods supplied to Robert Child, Earl of Jersey for Osterley Park, Middlesex which remain at the house (illustrated M. Tomlin, op.cit.). These are listed in the 1782 inventory as 'Two exceeding elegant tripod stands richly carved and gilt in burnish gold with three Paintings and green baize Covers.' They are after a design by Robert Adam dated 13 November 1776 and inscribed 'Design of a Tripod for the Tapestry room at Osterly (sic.).' (Soane Museum, vol.17, no. 62) is reproduced in M. Tomlin, Victoria and Albert Museum Catalogue of Adam Period Furniture, 1972, p.55. no.G/3a.
4. A design by Robert Adam dated 1778 and inscribed 'Design of a Tripod for Lady Home; (Soane Museum, vol.17, no.63) is reproduced in M. Whinney, Home House: No.20 Portman Square, 1969, fig.50. It is not known whether these tripods were executed.
These torcheres are likely to have formed part of the furnishings commissioned for Hungerton Hall, Lincolnshire during its building in the early 1780's by George de Ligne Gregory (d.1822). His son, Mr. Gregory Gregory lived in the house until the completion of Harlaxton Manor in the 1830's. A sale from the collection at Christie's on 17 June 1878 describes lot 27 as a 'tripod wood pedestal, carved with three figures of griffins and painted white'. This would appear to be one of the set. The others in the set would have remained with the family and may have been included in the house sale of 28-30 June 1937.