Fine Pair of William & Mary Period Walnut Torcheres, English c.1690

Circular top with molded edge with shaped molded support. Tripartite legs.

Octagonal top and barley twist support ending on an X-form platform base.

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...

Candlestand with circular top, turned pedestal, three turned legs and ball feet. Black paint is not original.

A beautiful and very chic circa 1820 English Regency period stand or occasional table having brass bound 17th/18th century Chinese lacquer panel top on reeded pedestal ending in acan...

English Regency painted and gilt satinwood inlaid tripod candle stand with a spiral ringed pedestal, and resting on curvature splayed legs with bal...