Thomas Moore
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Lot 29TP
A Dutch late 17th/early 18th century carved giltwood figural tripod torchere 1700-1710
13 – 14 July 2022, 14:00 BST
London, New Bond StreetSold for £3,570 inc. premium
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A Dutch late 17th/early 18th century carved giltwood figural tripod torchere
1700-1710
The dished circular top with a moulded surround, on a column modelled as an allegorical female term looking to dexter and surmounted by a stiff-leaf capital, the classically draped figure with one arm raised aloft and with a loose ribbon-tied floral garland over one shoulder, with a bellflower, acanthus and fish scale tapering columnar base, above a foliate clasped baluster, on scroll-hipped and acanthus carved S-scroll legs terminating in leaf wrapped feet, approximate measurements: 38.5cm diameter of top; 107cm high
The dished circular top with a moulded surround, on a column modelled as an allegorical female term looking to dexter and surmounted by a stiff-leaf capital, the classically draped figure with one arm raised aloft and with a loose ribbon-tied floral garland over one shoulder, with a bellflower, acanthus and fish scale tapering columnar base, above a foliate clasped baluster, on scroll-hipped and acanthus carved S-scroll legs terminating in leaf wrapped feet, approximate measurements: 38.5cm diameter of top; 107cm high
Footnotes
The offered lot is comparable to one of a pair of giltwood torcheres, dated circa 1700, which feature in R. Baarsen, Dutch Furniture, 1600-1800, 1993, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, fig. 32, pp.'s 70-71. Both this model and the present candle stand appear to be directly based upon designs produced by Daniel Marot at approximately that time.
According to Baarsen such herm (or term) figural torcheres, which employ the aesthetic of scrolls being surmounted by the straight angle of a column combined with distinctive S-scrolled tripod or triform bases, are among various characteristics seen in Marot designs. And these are both elements evident on this single example, whilst the overall design and carving of the above term is also closely related to this pair.
However, the candle stands appearing in the Rijksmuseum book are larger in size and Baarsen suggests that smaller scale ones, such as the offered version, were typically more often made as part of a 'triad' of pieces tending to comprise a pier mirror, pier table and pair of torcheres. Unfortunately of course it is not clear for what purpose the present lot was originally made.
Regardless of the Marot association, it is important to note that this kind of item was probably largely the work of Huguenots who had fled France following the negative socio-political repercussions for Protestants of the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, which had been instigated by Louis XIV in 1685.
Literature
R. Baarsen, Dutch Furniture, 1600-1800, 1993, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam
Liefkes, 1975; Baarsen, 1988-89, p. 21, fig. 14