An Important Pair of Late Georgian Period Patinated Bronze Mounted Torchères

Object Description

An Important Pair of Late Georgian Period
Patinated Bronze Mounted Torchères

An exceptional pair of flamed mahogany torchères standing over 6 feet tall, with extensive patinated bronze mounts throughout, the tripartite base with concave trapezoidal sides set with bronze laurel wreaths, supported on ball & claw feet; the spiralling and stop-fluted columnar stem emerging from an acanthus leaf collar at its base, one surrounded by seated bronze lions while the other has seated bronze wolves, a conforming acanthus leaf capital in the Corinthian manner supports the circular platforms bearing a pair of bronze vases of Medici form, with relief friezes derived from the famous Borghese and Medici vases.
English, circa 1820

Object Literature

Examples of similar Regency-era torchères can be found in various locations, including a pair in the Drawing Room at Southill (circa 1808), a torchère illustrated in Reade’s “Regency Antiques” (circa 1810), and a broader proportioned example made for Henry Holland, based on a Tatham drawing. The British Museum and the V&A also house related pieces, including a carefully-realized drawing by Giuseppe Manocchi.

The bronze vases affixed to the torchères, while likely later additions, further exemplify the archaeological aspect of Neoclassicism in Regency taste. Their design is based on two famous ancient vases:

1. The Medici vase, discovered in the 1570s and now in the Uffizi, which inspired one of the friezes and the overall form. This vase has been consistently copied since its excavation and remained a popular reference point in neoclassical decoration well into the Regency period.

2. The Borghese vase, now in the Louvre, which provided the model for the Bacchanalian scene on the other frieze.

Object Condition

Excellent condition

Object Details