Pair of Brackets
ca. 1700 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This pair of identical brackets date from the reign of Louis XIV, King of France from 1643 until 1715. Brackets like these could have been used to support a shelf or to add emphasis to certain architectural elements of an interior, a doorway for example. The brackets are made of limewood, which is particularly suited to carving as it is easy to work and gives a crisp finish, allowing greater detail.
The complex combination of motifs - a winged female, scrolls, a lattice ornamented with flowers, beads, husks and acanthus leaves - creates a sophisticated whole, heightened by the gilding. Lavish, multi-layered decoration of this kind was typical of French interiors of the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
The complex combination of motifs - a winged female, scrolls, a lattice ornamented with flowers, beads, husks and acanthus leaves - creates a sophisticated whole, heightened by the gilding. Lavish, multi-layered decoration of this kind was typical of French interiors of the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Carved and gilded limewood |
| Brief description | Pair of brackets of gilded limewood, carved with a winged female head and trellised decoration, carved and gilded limewood |
| Physical description | Pair of brackets decorated with a winged female head, limewood, carved and gilded. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Object history | Herm and term figures can be made into supports for brackets, especially if their pedestals are bent into a curve. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This pair of identical brackets date from the reign of Louis XIV, King of France from 1643 until 1715. Brackets like these could have been used to support a shelf or to add emphasis to certain architectural elements of an interior, a doorway for example. The brackets are made of limewood, which is particularly suited to carving as it is easy to work and gives a crisp finish, allowing greater detail. The complex combination of motifs - a winged female, scrolls, a lattice ornamented with flowers, beads, husks and acanthus leaves - creates a sophisticated whole, heightened by the gilding. Lavish, multi-layered decoration of this kind was typical of French interiors of the late 17th and early 18th centuries. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 654&A-1904 |
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| Record created | February 5, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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