George III Wall Brackets

A spectacular and exceptionally rare pair of English, possibly Irish, George III circa 1800 wall brackets or shelves in 'Rustic' style, the cusped shaped tops in original 'red ochre' paint with period brass hanging tabs, the tapering 'bodies' composed of fully gilded twigs and rootwood in original finish. Provenance: The collection of Sir John Boorman at The Glebe, Annamoe, County Wicklow, Ireland. The 'Rustic' style in design emerged in Great Britain from the 'Picturesque' movement within Romanticism of the 18th century as a quiet rebellion against the formality of Baroque and Neoclassical architectural styles and was largely ephemeral due to it's inherently specific application; that it being intended for the 'cottage orné', follies, and grottos of the landed gentry. Frances Collard states "Rustic furniture, particularly that made of untrimmed branches and roots, appeared in the designs of Thomas Chippendale and Thomas Johnson and were featured in an anonymous work published by Josiah Taylor's 'Architectural Library, "Ideas for Rustic Furniture", from 1790-5". The Duke of Buccleuch...

Originally gilded or painted. With a gadrooned edge to the demilune shaped shelf, the bracket with a rocaille carved shell and pierced scroll and flower head carving. From a Newport ...

An exceptional pair of mid-18th century carved and water gilt wall brackets profusely carved with acanthus leaves and swags of plump roses, ripe fruits, harebells and flower heads. ...

Pair 19th c. carved and gilt wood wall brackets in the Chippendale manner. Each rococo shaped shelf on shell and double C-scroll carved support. Measure 13" tall x 11" wide x 5 3/4" ...

A magnificent pair of late 18th century George III giltwood wall brackets fashioned as bunches of lilies suspended below festoons of 7...