THE PROPERTY OF A WASHINGTON D.C. COLLECTOR (lots 16-18)

A PAIR OF GEORGE III WHITE-PAINTED AND PARCEL-GILT TORCHERES AND TWO-LIGHT CANDELABRA

CIRCA 1790

Details

A PAIR OF GEORGE III WHITE-PAINTED AND PARCEL-GILT TORCHERES AND TWO-LIGHT CANDELABRA
Circa 1790
Each with circular moulded top above a beaded and leaf-carved frieze, with acanthus finial to the underside, on scrolled moulded supports joined by beaded swags and a concave undertier with urn-finial, the tripod supports ending in palm-wrapped Greek key, on short tapering later feet joined by concave stretchers, the removable platform with moulded, beaded and leaf-wrapped tapering finial issuing a three-light candelabra formed from giltwood lilies, redecorated, candelabra now removable with additional element to top of torchere and to candelabra base so these can be used separately
49 in. (124.5 cm.) high, the torcheres, 79 in. (200.5 cm.) high overall, 20 in. (51 cm.) diameter (2)

Provenance

Anonymous sale, Sotheby's London, 8 March 1985, lot 151.
Acquired from Stair & Company, London.

Lot Essay

The form of this pair of torcheres relate to designs in Thomas Sheraton's The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Drawing Book, pl. 55, which illustrates two designs of for 'Tripod Candle-Stands' dated 1792. The current lot displays an amagamation of these two forms. Also interesting to note is the form of the lily-spray branches which are in imitation of French ormolu candelabra of the 1770's and 1780's. This form continued to be popular in Britain and indeed English ormolu variants are found in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

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