Lot Essay
These plinth-supported torch candlesticks, guarded by chimerical winged lions that relate to the conjoined eagle lion griffin sacred to the sun-god Apollo, are designed in the Roman manner promoted by the architects Charles Heathcote Tatham (d. 1842) and Henry Holland (d. 1806) in their decoration of Carlton House, London. They are inspired by the marble bas-relief fragment of a torch-bearing griffin engraved by Tatham in his celebrated Etchings of Ancient Ornamental Sculpture drawn from the Originals in Rome and other parts of Italy during the years 1794, 1795 and 1797, which was published 1799-1800. Signed with Tatham's monogram, the etching is inscribed Antique Chimière in basso relievo of white marble, a fragment at Rome, published May 1798 by C.H. Tatham, London. The linear style of his etchings, later adopted by Thomas Hope, had widespread influence and his Etchings was reprinted in 1803 and 1810.
Holland's sponsorship enabled Tatham to undertake an extensive Italian sojourn from 1794-6 and he in return acted as both a draughtsman and informant on decorative bronzes after the antique, manufactured by firms such as that of Antonin Righetti as well as French bronze-workers based in Rome. On his return to England following Napoleon's invasion of Rome, Tatham put his knowledge to good use, designing both candelabra and ornamental metalwork.
The earliest recorded pair of this model, signed B. Vulliamy & Sons and dated Dec 1 1809, was sold from the Fermor-Hesketh Collection in these Rooms, 7 July 1988, lot 8. Benjamin Vulliamy (d. 1820) and his son Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy (d. 1854), 'Furniture Man' to George, Prince of Wales, later George IV, held the Royal Warrant as Watch and Clockmaker and were established at 74 Pall Mall. As well as horological 'conceits', they provided decorative bronze garnitures, such as those described as being 'The excellent work of Mr. Vulliamy' in Mr. Hawkes' catalogue of the Duke of Marlborough's collection at White-Knights, Berkshire on the 8 September 1828. Amongst the modellers employed by the Vulliamy's was James Smith, who executed figures cast in bronze by Thomas Castlewood in 1810 (Carlton House, The Past Glories of George IV's Palace, London, 1991, p. 178.)
A pair of candlesticks of this model was offered in these Rooms, 4 April 1991, lot 60. Their white marble plinth bases were enriched with identical mounts to an inkstand supplied by Vulliamy to the Prince of Wales in 1810 for use at Carlton House and now in the Royal Collection (G. de Bellaigue, 'The Vulliamys and France', Furniture History Society Journal , 1967, pp. 45-53, pls. 12A-14B)
Holland's sponsorship enabled Tatham to undertake an extensive Italian sojourn from 1794-6 and he in return acted as both a draughtsman and informant on decorative bronzes after the antique, manufactured by firms such as that of Antonin Righetti as well as French bronze-workers based in Rome. On his return to England following Napoleon's invasion of Rome, Tatham put his knowledge to good use, designing both candelabra and ornamental metalwork.
The earliest recorded pair of this model, signed B. Vulliamy & Sons and dated Dec 1 1809, was sold from the Fermor-Hesketh Collection in these Rooms, 7 July 1988, lot 8. Benjamin Vulliamy (d. 1820) and his son Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy (d. 1854), 'Furniture Man' to George, Prince of Wales, later George IV, held the Royal Warrant as Watch and Clockmaker and were established at 74 Pall Mall. As well as horological 'conceits', they provided decorative bronze garnitures, such as those described as being 'The excellent work of Mr. Vulliamy' in Mr. Hawkes' catalogue of the Duke of Marlborough's collection at White-Knights, Berkshire on the 8 September 1828. Amongst the modellers employed by the Vulliamy's was James Smith, who executed figures cast in bronze by Thomas Castlewood in 1810 (Carlton House, The Past Glories of George IV's Palace, London, 1991, p. 178.)
A pair of candlesticks of this model was offered in these Rooms, 4 April 1991, lot 60. Their white marble plinth bases were enriched with identical mounts to an inkstand supplied by Vulliamy to the Prince of Wales in 1810 for use at Carlton House and now in the Royal Collection (G. de Bellaigue, 'The Vulliamys and France', Furniture History Society Journal , 1967, pp. 45-53, pls. 12A-14B)