An Unusual George III Carved, Ebonised & Upholstered Torchère c.1780
SOLD
Origin: English
Period: George III
Provenance: Unknown
Date: c.1770-90
Height: 39.5 inches
At Top: 10 x 9 inches
The shaped top raised on an emerald and gold floral fabric upholstered rope spiral-twist column, under a well carved ebonised acanthus leaf capital, the whole resting on an ebonised stepped plinth base, survives from Georgian England.
The torchère is in fair to good overall order, it has suffered knocks and scuffing to its base so there is paint flaking to the whole but overall it remains in fairly good decorative condition, pleasing in that it has not been restored in any way. The fabric is coming away in parts and is thinning in others and we believe the entire ensemble to be original to the piece. The top has some staining to it whilst just underneath the carving is pretty much in tact, with wear, and the whole is stable. The entire piece has a very decorative country house look to it.
When it was first introduced in France towards the end of the 17th century the torchiere mounted one candle only, and when the number was doubled or tripled the improvement was regarded almost as a revolution in the illumination of large rooms.
This example is unusual mainly due to the way the column is upholstered with fabric, we haven’t any others decorated in this way before. The ebonisation is also relatively unusual for a piece of this nature from this period.
Very unusual, beautifully bohemian and wonderfully eccentric.
Period: George III
Provenance: Unknown
Date: c.1770-90
Height: 39.5 inches
At Top: 10 x 9 inches
The shaped top raised on an emerald and gold floral fabric upholstered rope spiral-twist column, under a well carved ebonised acanthus leaf capital, the whole resting on an ebonised stepped plinth base, survives from Georgian England.
The torchère is in fair to good overall order, it has suffered knocks and scuffing to its base so there is paint flaking to the whole but overall it remains in fairly good decorative condition, pleasing in that it has not been restored in any way. The fabric is coming away in parts and is thinning in others and we believe the entire ensemble to be original to the piece. The top has some staining to it whilst just underneath the carving is pretty much in tact, with wear, and the whole is stable. The entire piece has a very decorative country house look to it.
When it was first introduced in France towards the end of the 17th century the torchiere mounted one candle only, and when the number was doubled or tripled the improvement was regarded almost as a revolution in the illumination of large rooms.
This example is unusual mainly due to the way the column is upholstered with fabric, we haven’t any others decorated in this way before. The ebonisation is also relatively unusual for a piece of this nature from this period.
Very unusual, beautifully bohemian and wonderfully eccentric.