Doe and Hope

Description

The relatively large sinous patinated brass torchère or candle stand, simulating bamboo, and standing on tripod legs, with a large single sconce, and surviving from late nineteenth century Europe, most likely France.

Remaining in good overall condition, she stands well, the feet with later screw replacements. The patination to the metal is lovely and there has been no attempt at cleaning.

When it was first introduced in France towards the end of the 17th century the torchère mounted one candle only, and when the number was doubled or tripled the improvement was regarded almost as a revolution in the illumination of large rooms.

Simple materials like brass, as we see here, simulating bamboo were first favoured in the later period of Regency design emphasising the gay informality of the new taste rather than the opulent and rich pieces made earlier.

A great centrepiece.