EARLY 19TH CENTURY, WITH REPLACEMENTS

Related Imperial Roman lamps of this form were designed around 1800 for the 'Lararium' of the Duchess Street mansion/museum created by the connoisseur Thomas Hope (d.1831) and his architect C.H. Tatham (d.1842), author of Etchings of Ancient Ornamental Architecture, 1801, (T. Hope, Household Furniture and Interior Decoration, 1807. pl.10). George Smith noted that such 'chimney mantle' vases, should be 'executed in chased metal, imitating ormolu' (G.Smith, Collection of Designs, 1808, pl. 141). The theatric bacchantae bas reliefs, which embellish these 'Apollo' python-handled vases, derive from Hope's celebrated bronze krater vase (Hope, ibid, pl.37). The latter's manufacture, like Hope's Roman lantern, has been attributed to the Piccadilly bronze-founder Alexis Decaix, whose work was praised in Hope's 1807 Guide (see lantern sold Christie's London, 22 April, 2004, lot 131). A pair of lamps of similar design were sold Wateringbury Place, Maidstone, Kent, Christie's House Sale, 31 May - 2 June 1978, lot 191.