Pair of 18th Century Venetian Torcheres or Gueridon

A wonderful pair of 19th Century Italian Octagonal Pedestal Cabinets. Painted in faux bois set in ebonised panels. The tops and bases painted with faux marble decoration. Cupboard d...

A mid 19th century mahogany coaching table with beautifully figured top, on collapsable x-framed base, with shaped and turned legs. England, circa 1850. Lovely dry original conditi...

These wonderful guéridons are designed in the Empire style—named as such because it flourished in the period when Napoleon I was Emperor of France. The style employed Imperial Roman ...

Due to their utilitarian nature, surviving pairs of 17th century candle stands/torchères are extremely rare and generally only seen today in great houses. The quality of the marquetry decoration and the attention to detail indicate that these candle stands were probably made for a substantial household. The turned stems displays the skill of the turner, and create fluidity, variety of form, emphasing the quality of the solid walnut grain and the floral inlay as well as holding and balancing the form of the top. The sweeping, scroll feet balance the proportion and fluidity of the candle stands/torchères, giving them presence. They are sturdy and in excellent condition. Virtually identical turnings and form. Both with octagonal tops, one with a central marquetry floral spray, the other plain. The upper sections with solid walnut baluster and ring turnings leading into lower octagonal sections decorated with marquetry floral sprays repeated 3 times. The stems supported by octagonal blocks with a repeat of the floral spray and scroll tripod bases with two floral sprays on the upper facing sections. Excellent original colour and patina. English. Height 96cm, Top diameter 29cm Moveable stands to support a candlestick or lamp were intended to supplement the fixed lighting arrangements of rooms. The evidence of inventories suggests that they did not become common in France until about 1650 when they accompanied fine tables and cabinets. Such stands, being sometimes in the form of gueridons. The fashion for decorative candlestands spread rapidly after the Restoration, when they were often made en-suite to flank a sidetable with a mirror above. Such sets are mentioned in lists of household goods and by contemporary writers. In 1664, for instance, Mary Verney is anxious to obtain “a table and stands of the same coler”. The Academy of Armory, published in 1688, defines a candle-stand as a “little round table...