Pair of finials of carved limewood, of vase form, probably originally covered with gesso and gilding, possibly from the tester of a bed

Of carved limewood, originally covered with gesso and gilding; probably from a bed, English, 1680-1720

Pair of vase finials in carved limewood, originally gessoed and gilded. The vases are flattened ovals in section, one of the flatter sides carved with a mask and are fully carved, with no previous turning. The bodies of both vases show chisel marks.

The flaring bases are carved with egg and dart, with, above, a band of leaves and grotesque masks. The waist of each vase is carved with a wreath of foliage, with a central flower. The body of each is carved at the bottom with upright acanthus. Each plain, rounded body is carved with a winged cherub's head, flanked by heavy swags of flowers and foliage. At the back, both vases show the mouldings and formal ornament but not a second cherub's head or swags. Above is a narrow band of hanging leaf ornament and one of egg and dart, imitating in reverse the carving on the foot. Above this, each vase shows a roughly carved, shallow step, which may have been used to located some sort of cover. On top, each is roughly hollowed out in a shallow V-shape. Both still show traces of gesso.

Both show vertical cracks where the timber has dried. Each shows a hole at each side at the level of the shoulders of the vase, possibly screw holes. Underneath, both show a hole to fit a dowel, with 3 or 4 nail or screw holes around each of these. W.17a shows large losses to the lower front left rim, with some areas of replacement.

Given by Mr C. Norris

Given by C. Norris, who had purchased the vases from an antique shop that could give no provenance for them (Registered File 73/2336)

These vases were probably originally gessoed and gilded. The coarsely carved out recess in the top of each vase may have been where a bunch of feathers could have been placed if these came from the tester of a bed ( known as a 'bouquet de plumes' - usually of egrets feathers, surrounded by ostrich plumes, sometimes coloured). The slightly flattened form on one side may suggest that they came from the head, rather than the foot of a bed. The quality of the carving is exceptional, suggesting teh high quality of the bed for which they were made. It is in the style current all over Northern Europe about 1700.

These vase-shaped finials were originally covered in gesso (a mixture of chalk and glue) that was gilded. All this decoration is now lost. They were probably made for the tester of a grand bed and in that case the hollows in the top would have been fitted with plumes of feather (generally egret and ostrich, sometimes coloured). The finials show flattened backs, without the heads of cherubs or the swags of foliage, so they may have been made for the head of a bed, where they would have stood against the wall. Such finials were also used on staircase newel posts, screens and even carriages and barges.

W.17&A-1973