18th Century English Furniture Designed by Robert Adam
THE APSLEY HOUSE TORCHERES BY ROBERT ADAM (1728-1792)
A pair of George III gilt wood and gesso torcheres and candelabra by Robert Adam (1728-1792), the triangular plinth on claw feet, the concave sides with oval medallions depicting young girls in classical dress playing musical instruments, the top edge with arched foliate decoration, the corners with stylized acanthus topped with ram's heads, all supporting a turned circular column decorated at the base with oval paterae and harebell swags the centre with fluting and acanthus carving with a small guilloche band, the top with further fluting and decoration edged with Vitruvian scrolling supporting a candelabra with seated griffins below four candle holders separated by a central classical urn with guilloche band with a further candle holder.
English, circa 1780
Height of torchère: 47¾in
(121cm)
Overall height with candelabra: 64½in (164cm)
Diameter of top: 13in (33cm)
Width across feet: 15¾in (40cm)
Provenance:
Designed and supplied by Robert Adam (1728-1792) to Henry, Lord Apsley, later
2nd Earl Bathurst (1714-1794) for Apsley House, London in circa 1778