Offered by Franck Baptiste Paris
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A large pair of torchères made of linden and oak, finished with gold leaf gilding.
Neoclassical design featuring a tripod base terminating in broad scrolls adorned with acanthus leaves and carved rosettes.
These support three openwork uprights, finely carved with laurel friezes and coin motifs.
The uprights are joined at the top and bottom by circular tiers—decorated with bead-and-reel and fluted friezes—encircling classical-style cassolettes (urns).
Substantial laurel leaf garlands, suspended from the upper cassolette, drape elegantly down the length of the uprights.
Above, an acanthus leaf collar forms the base for circular tops edged with a water-leaf frieze. These rest on an elegant support shaped like a flared corolla, featuring deep, radiating fluting.
Original gold-leaf gilding over a red bole base, visible in places due to natural wear over time.
Excellent state of preservation; minor restorations consistent with age and use.
Parisian craftsmanship, Louis XVI period.
Dimensions:
Height: 160 cm; Diameter of tops: 40 cm
Our assessment:
Pairs of torchères of this scale are particularly rare today. Intended for galleries and grand palace apartments, they originally supported imposing multi-armed candelabra, the brilliance of which enhanced the magnificence of the décor. Their use entailed considerable wax consumption, making this type of furnishing a luxury reserved for the most prestigious residences.
The model presented here is distinguished by the exceptional complexity of its design. Its ornamental vocabulary, drawn from Antiquity, aligns with the designs popularized by Jean-Charles Delafosse, the leading proponent of the Neoclassical style in France during the second half of the 18th century. The architectural purity of the composition is here combined with exceptionally rich carving of remarkable finesse.
The quality of the carving, the richness of detail, and the elegance of the proportions recall the finest examples of Parisian furniture from the late reign of Louis XVI, evoking the work of master chair-makers such as Georges Jacob and Jean-Baptiste II Sené. The preservation of the original gold-leaf gilding over a red bole ground—still visible in places—further enhances the appeal and authenticity of this exceptional suite.
