An Empire period Russian column

A very fine Empire period Russian gilt bronze mounted carved and gilded mahogany column a composed of a circular top upon a stop fluted circular columnar support decorated with gilt fluted panels set upon a circular gilt bronze mounted plinth and an octagonal gilt banded mahogany base

Russian, date circa 1810-20
Height 113 cm.

Literature: Arcadi Gaydamak, “Russian Empire, Architecture, Decorative and Applied Arts, Interior Decoration 1800-1830”, 2000, pp. 154-5, illustrating a very similar set of columns of identical shape but on a panelled plinth supporting Empire porcelain vases in the Blue Sitting Room in the Yekaterininsky wing of Monplaisir, Peterhof. And pp. 248-9, showing a pair of very similar columns supporting baluster shaped jugs as part of the bedroom suite for a bedroom in the Yekaterininsky wing of Monplaisir, Peterhof.

The design of this elegant column accords with the Russian Empire style and compares closely with other gilded mahogany columns of the period; like them and because of its simplicity and economy of decoration it was perfectly suited for displaying a brightly coloured ornamental work of art without fear of distracting from its decorative effect.