Stand or torchiere holder in gilded wood, molded and carved with shells, scrolls and acanthus leaves on a tripod base. Regency style. It can hold a torchiere or a vase.
What is a torchiere?
The word torchere is first mentioned, according to Harvard, in the dictionnaire de l'Académie in 1696, but, the author points out, the term had already been in use for more than twenty years. At first, the torchere seems to have been a large candlestick, significantly larger and sturdier than ordinary candlesticks. Towards the end of the 17th century, the torchiere included several torches. This multiplied the number of lighting sources. A little later, the torchiere was transformed into a pedestal table on which candlesticks, candelabras and girandoles were placed. Intended for the homes of the wealthy classes, the silver torchiere...
Category
1890s French Regency Antique Giltwood Building and Garden Elements