Candlestand from Althorp pier set thumbnail 1
Candlestand from Althorp pier set thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 54

Candlestand from Althorp pier set

Candlestand
1982 (made)
Artist/Maker
Partridge Fine Arts Ltd. (maker)
Place of origin
England (made)

This candlestand was made by Partridge (Fine Arts) Ltd in 1981 to match the surviving 17th-century Italian stand which formed part of a set of furniture placed against the pier, between windows, in the state apartments of Althorp, Northamptonshire. It is understood that this furniture formed part of the furnishing of the house when it belonged to the Earl of Sunderland (1641-1702).

The stand is made of pinewood with a top painted in imitation of Japanese lacquer, a process known as 'japanning', with a mother-of-pearl border.


Object details

Categories
Furniture
British Galleries
SCRAN
Interiors
Object type
Candlestand
TitleCandlestand from Althorp pier set (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Pine, with lacquer panel, painted black and gold
Pine
Mother of Pearl
Inlay (Process)
Brief description
Candlestand, copy of a candlestand from Althorp [W74B-1981, 1675-85], made by Partridge Fine Arts Ltd, pine wood and mother of pearl, 1982
Physical description
A candlestand made of pine, the top painted in imitation of Japanese lacquer with a mother-of-pearl border. The rest of the stand is painted black.
Dimensions
  • Height: 105cm
  • Width: 44cm
  • Base diameter: 39cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 21/01/1999 by NH
Gallery label
  • 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)
Credit line
Purchased with the assistance of the Brigadier Clark Fund through Art Fund
Object history
Made by Partridge (Fine Arts) Ltd., to match the original surviving stand. Purchased in 1981.
England
Subjects depicted
Stands (Support Furniture)
Duplicate
Summary
This candlestand was made by Partridge (Fine Arts) Ltd in 1981 to match the surviving 17th-century Italian stand which formed part of a set of furniture placed against the pier, between windows, in the state apartments of Althorp, Northamptonshire. It is understood that this furniture formed part of the furnishing of the house when it belonged to the Earl of Sunderland (1641-1702).

The stand is made of pinewood with a top painted in imitation of Japanese lacquer, a process known as 'japanning', with a mother-of-pearl border.
Collection
Furniture and Woodwork Collection
Accession number
W.74C-1981

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Record createdApril 11, 2003
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O79909/candlestand-from-althorp-pier-set-candlestand-partridge-fine-arts/
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