Description

This rare pair of torcheres or lamp stands would have originally been placed on either side of an en suite side-table as part of a triad. Table groups of this design could be found at courts throughout Europe, reaching their zenith with silver clad masterpieces, which can still be seen in Windsor Castle and Knole House in the UK and Rosenborg Castle in Denmark among a very few others.

The spirally carved legs identify a period from 1660 to 1690 and introduced a level of novelty following the austerity of the earlier part of the century. A feature of Tuscany and particularly Florence, the added details could be in gesso but also in ‘carta pesta’, where the detailing was cast in thick papier mache. Once dried, it could be glued to the cabinet work and further finished and gilded as here.