18th Century, Architectural Model of Doric Column

About the Item

An extremely rare, exquisite architectural model of a Doric column England, third quarter of 18th century. Why we like it Exquisitely carved and having accents picked out in gold, this extremely rare survivor from the golden era of Classical architecture in Britain was perhaps intended for an architect's office, or for a study of a gentleman architect, such as Lord Burlington (1694–1753), who was famously known as the "Apollo of the Arts" and the "Architect Earl". Such exquisite and decorative objects were copied from ancient Greek and Roman originals, that aspiring architects could see and draw during their 'Grand Tour' in Italy, Greece, Ottoman Empire and etc. The only other comparable example of such rare objects that we came across was a set of three columns, previously owned by the late Sir Albert Richardson (1880–1964), architect, historian, writer, artist, teacher and sometime President of the Royal Academy – sold by Christie’s London, 19 September 2013, lot 173 (£13,750). A comparable delicacy of the carving, in the manner of the 'St. Martin's Lane circle', suggests that our columns were very likely made by the same master-craftsman. Originating in the western Doric region of Greece, it is the earliest and, in its essence, the simplest of the orders, though still with complex details in the entablature above. In his monumental The Ten Books on Architecture, Vitruvius, who was an architect and architectural historian of the age of Augustus, associates the Doric order with the masculine proportions: 'the Doric column, as used in buildings, ... exhibits the proportions, strength, and beauty of the body of a man'. On finding that a man's foot measured one sixth of the height, the ancients applied the same principle to the column.

Dimensions:

Height: 10.83 in (27.5 cm)Width: 3.84 in (9.75 cm)Depth: 3.84 in (9.75 cm)

Style:

George III (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Walnut,Gilt,Polished

Place of Origin:

England

Period:

Mid-18th Century

Date of Manufacture:

1750-1770