Candlestand
- Place of origin:
England, Great Britain (made)
- Date:
- Artist/Maker:
- Materials and Techniques:
Pine, veneered with pieces of Japanese lacquer including mother-of-pearl, and painted black and gold
- Credit Line:
Purchased with the assistance of the Brigadier Clark Fund through The Art Fund
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
British Galleries, room 54b, case 1
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Object Type
This candlestand, dating from about 1680, is made of japanned pinewood (pine painted in imitation of oriental lacquer) with Japanese lacquer in the form of a mon (a Japanese coat of arms) set into the top.
Time
By about 1660 Japanese cabinets were highly prized by the nobility, as was any piece of furniture from a workshop in Western Europe that incorporated original parts of Japanese furniture.
Place
This was almost certainly made for Robert, 2nd Earl of Sunderland (1641-1702), for his seat at Althorp, Northamptonshire, to match the pier glass and table.
Physical description
Pine veneered with pieces of Japanese lacquer with mother- of-pearl (probably originally from a chest, about 1620-1640), and painted black and gold
Place of Origin
England, Great Britain (made)
Date
ca. 1680 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Pine, veneered with pieces of Japanese lacquer including mother-of-pearl, and painted black and gold
Dimensions
Height: 105 cm, Width: 44 cm, Diameter: 39 cm base
Object history note
Almost certainly commissioned by Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland (born in Paris, 1641, and died at Althorp, Northamptonshire, 1702) for Althorp, Northamptonshire]
Made in England
Descriptive line
From Althorp pier set
Labels and date
W.76-1981 [sic]
STAND
ENGLISH; about 1680
Pine japanned (painted) black and gold and veneered with Japanese lacquer.
Ensuite with dressing table (W. 75-1981) [sic] and mirror (W.74-1981)
The pair to this stand is a replica made in 1981.
Part of Robert, 2nd Earl of Sunderland's furnishings of Althorp, Northamptonshire.
Bought with the aid of the Brigadier Clark Fund.
N.B. Museum numbers incorrect on label. [pre October 2000]
TABLE, MIRROR AND TWO CANDLESTANDS
Pine veneered with Japanese lacquer and painted black and gold
ENGLISH; about 1680 (one of the stands is a modern replica)
From Althorp, Northamptonshire. Groups of table, mirror and two candlestands were freqeuntly placed against the window piers of state apartments at this date. This group was probably acquired by Robert, second Earl of Sunderland, and seems originally to have served as a dressing table. Several high quality Japanese cabinets or screens have been cannibalised to supply the veneer: the mon or crest of a Japanese noble family can be seen on the table, showing that not only lacquer made for export was used in this way. [pre July 2001]
Categories
Furniture; British Galleries
Collection code
FWK
