Candelabrum
1813-1814 (hallmarked)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This monumental centrepiece decorated with acanthus and reeds is in the Neo-classical style. It would have provided the focal point for a dinner table as well as lighting for the diners. The inspiration for the base came from a pair of antique marble candelabra in Rome. The designers did not copy them directly, but by means of an engraving by the Italian artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi(1720-1778) or later drawings by Charles Heathcote Tatham.
By the early 19th century, the immense wealth of Britain's richest citizens enabled them to patronise the luxury trades of coach-builders, cabinet-makers and silversmiths. The Prince Regent (Later George IV) and his aristocratic contemporaries set the style of what became known as the Regency period.They were indebted to the most prestigious firm of London goldsmiths of the age, Rundell, Bridge & Rundell. The company supplied silver at the forefront of fashion. Their large design studio included important artists such as John Flaxman and Jean-Jacques Boileau.
Sir Arthur and Rosalinde Gilbert began collecting in the 1960s and over a period of 40 years formed one of the world’s great private collections of decorative arts. The collection consists of over 800 objects from the fields of European gold and silver, Italian mosaics and hardstone, portrait enamels and gold boxes. Sir Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996 to be housed at Somerset House, London, having previously been displayed at Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). In 2008 the collection was moved to dedicated galleries in the V&A, where a selection has been on permanent display ever since.
By the early 19th century, the immense wealth of Britain's richest citizens enabled them to patronise the luxury trades of coach-builders, cabinet-makers and silversmiths. The Prince Regent (Later George IV) and his aristocratic contemporaries set the style of what became known as the Regency period.They were indebted to the most prestigious firm of London goldsmiths of the age, Rundell, Bridge & Rundell. The company supplied silver at the forefront of fashion. Their large design studio included important artists such as John Flaxman and Jean-Jacques Boileau.
Sir Arthur and Rosalinde Gilbert began collecting in the 1960s and over a period of 40 years formed one of the world’s great private collections of decorative arts. The collection consists of over 800 objects from the fields of European gold and silver, Italian mosaics and hardstone, portrait enamels and gold boxes. Sir Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996 to be housed at Somerset House, London, having previously been displayed at Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). In 2008 the collection was moved to dedicated galleries in the V&A, where a selection has been on permanent display ever since.
Object details
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Object type | |
Parts | This object consists of 17 parts.
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Materials and techniques | Silver-gilt, raised, cast, chased, engraved |
Brief description | Silver-gilt candelabrum or centrepiece, London hallmarks for 1813-1814, mark of Paul Storr |
Physical description | Six-branched, silver-gilt candelabrum centrepiece on a triangular base with incurved sides.The base stands on three shell-and-foliage bracket feet and is chased with a band of acanthus foliage. The baluster stem is supported by three recumbent lions, the lower part of the stem is engraved with the arms of Edward Wilbraham-Bootle and the seal of Newcastle under Lyme, Staffs, and the upper part is decorated with an acanthus calyx and fluting. This is surmounted by a shallow circular bowl with a fluted centre and acanthus border. The reeded scrolling double branches spring from the upper part of the stem; they have wax pans similar to the bowl in design and detachable fluted nozzles. |
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Gallery label | 7. Candelabrum centrepiece
1813–14
This candelabrum demonstrates the complexity of Regency silver, and the range of sources used for its inspiration. It was made by Paul Storr’s workshop from designs by an independent draughtsman, and inspired by engravings after the 18th-century Italian artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi, or drawings by Charles Heathcote Tatham. They in turn took their designs from antique Roman candelabra.
London, England; Paul Storr (1771–1844), perhaps after a design by Thomas Stothard (1755–1834) or Edward Hodges Baily (1788–1867)
Gilded silver
Engraved with arms of Edward Wilbraham-Bootle MP (1771–1853)
Museum no. Loan:Gilbert.778:1 to 17-2008(16/11/2016) |
Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
Object history | Provenance: Edward Wilbraham-Bootle, Baron Skelmersdale. Sale, Sotheby's, lot 210, April 24 1969. Sale, Christie's, December 3, 1969. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | This monumental centrepiece decorated with acanthus and reeds is in the Neo-classical style. It would have provided the focal point for a dinner table as well as lighting for the diners. The inspiration for the base came from a pair of antique marble candelabra in Rome. The designers did not copy them directly, but by means of an engraving by the Italian artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi(1720-1778) or later drawings by Charles Heathcote Tatham. By the early 19th century, the immense wealth of Britain's richest citizens enabled them to patronise the luxury trades of coach-builders, cabinet-makers and silversmiths. The Prince Regent (Later George IV) and his aristocratic contemporaries set the style of what became known as the Regency period.They were indebted to the most prestigious firm of London goldsmiths of the age, Rundell, Bridge & Rundell. The company supplied silver at the forefront of fashion. Their large design studio included important artists such as John Flaxman and Jean-Jacques Boileau. Sir Arthur and Rosalinde Gilbert began collecting in the 1960s and over a period of 40 years formed one of the world’s great private collections of decorative arts. The collection consists of over 800 objects from the fields of European gold and silver, Italian mosaics and hardstone, portrait enamels and gold boxes. Sir Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996 to be housed at Somerset House, London, having previously been displayed at Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). In 2008 the collection was moved to dedicated galleries in the V&A, where a selection has been on permanent display ever since. |
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Collection | |
Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.778:1 to 17-2008 |
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Record created | June 26, 2008 |
Record URL |
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