Girandole
1760-1765 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
'Girandole' is an Italian name for a wall light. Wooden wall lights were introduced in the late 17th century and were common by the mid-18th century. The Rococo style gave free reign to the carver's invention.
Design & Designing
This design incorporates a miller with a bag of flour descending a ladder from the upper floor of the windmill. The two candle branches grow out of trees. A contemporary pair of girandoles, based on the same design, were supplied to Hagley Park, Worcestershire, and are now in the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Materials & Making
The carving is contemporary to Thomas Johnson's One Hundred and Fifty New Designs, published between 1758 and 1761. The nozzles of the candle branches would originally have been made in metal, so the present wooden nozzles must be later replacements. The surface has been re-gessoed and gilded. Some traces of early gilding on red bole (a reddish-coloured clay used in gilding) are visible. The donkey's coat is very smooth and has subsequently been oil gilded. The old holes for the original fixings to the wall are visible on the back.
'Girandole' is an Italian name for a wall light. Wooden wall lights were introduced in the late 17th century and were common by the mid-18th century. The Rococo style gave free reign to the carver's invention.
Design & Designing
This design incorporates a miller with a bag of flour descending a ladder from the upper floor of the windmill. The two candle branches grow out of trees. A contemporary pair of girandoles, based on the same design, were supplied to Hagley Park, Worcestershire, and are now in the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Materials & Making
The carving is contemporary to Thomas Johnson's One Hundred and Fifty New Designs, published between 1758 and 1761. The nozzles of the candle branches would originally have been made in metal, so the present wooden nozzles must be later replacements. The surface has been re-gessoed and gilded. Some traces of early gilding on red bole (a reddish-coloured clay used in gilding) are visible. The donkey's coat is very smooth and has subsequently been oil gilded. The old holes for the original fixings to the wall are visible on the back.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Pine, with water gilding and oil gilding |
| Brief description | Girandole, English, 1760-1765, giltwood, designed by Thomas Johnson |
| Physical description | Carved and gilt wood girandole. Formed as a windmill with high gabled roof and four sails. In the front, two openings with Gothic trefoil heads. Against the upper of these is placed a ladder, up which climbs a miller holding a sack on his back. The mill stands on a ruined arch with plants growing between the staves; in front of this stands the miller's donkey. The whole is supported as a bracket carved with rococo scrolls. There are two candle branches with dip trays |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Label on reverse 'Chippendale bracket man & donkey bought by me Aug 1909 the property of Florence Grorden' |
| Gallery label |
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| Object history | Based on a design published in Thomas Johnson's '150 New Designs' (1758-1761). Probably carved in London. |
| Summary | Object Type 'Girandole' is an Italian name for a wall light. Wooden wall lights were introduced in the late 17th century and were common by the mid-18th century. The Rococo style gave free reign to the carver's invention. Design & Designing This design incorporates a miller with a bag of flour descending a ladder from the upper floor of the windmill. The two candle branches grow out of trees. A contemporary pair of girandoles, based on the same design, were supplied to Hagley Park, Worcestershire, and are now in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Materials & Making The carving is contemporary to Thomas Johnson's One Hundred and Fifty New Designs, published between 1758 and 1761. The nozzles of the candle branches would originally have been made in metal, so the present wooden nozzles must be later replacements. The surface has been re-gessoed and gilded. Some traces of early gilding on red bole (a reddish-coloured clay used in gilding) are visible. The donkey's coat is very smooth and has subsequently been oil gilded. The old holes for the original fixings to the wall are visible on the back. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.48-1952 |
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| Record created | February 16, 2001 |
| Record URL |
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