Candle stand
William Ince & John Mayhew (fl. 1759-99)
Category
Historic Services / Lighting
Date
circa 1782 - 1783
Materials
Giltwood, gesso, ormolu, paint
Measurements
220 x 70 x 65 cm
Place of origin
London
Order this imageCollection
Chirk Castle, Wrexham
NT 1170734.1
Summary
A torchère, one of a set of four, attributed to William Ince & John Mayhew (fl. 1759-99), cabinet-makers of London, circa 1782-3, and part of a larger group of furniture (including NT 1170733.1-.17 [seat furniture], NT 1170735.1.1, .1.2, .2.1 and .2.2 [pier mirrors and tables] supplied for the Saloon at Chirk Castle. A preparatory drawing of the torchères and their accompanying candelabra, possibly by William Ince, survives. The giltwood and ormolu three-light candelabrum topped by an ormolu candle cup on a waisted and beaded socle, descending to the candelabrum’s central giltwood stem, its upper part a reeded baluster clasped at its base by elongated leaves or petals, the lower part with a similar leafy capping on a spreading faceted, circulate base. The centre of the stem fitted with an ormolu knop issuing a pair of foliate scroll-cast branches, each terminating in a drip-tray cast to its underside with a band of acanthus and a reeded and fluted candle socket with flared rim. The giltwood torchère’s circular top with beaded edge and lappet-carved concave frieze above a pendant central boss carved with laurel and terminating in a lambrequin drop. The frieze mounted with three pendant calyx flowers and three lion masks, each lion holding a long meandering chain of attenuated, ovoid pearls. Each of the three supports carved with entrelac and united by carved bows of ribbon and terminating in an angular foot carved with a Greek key scroll. All on a (possibly later) rosewood-grained open platform raised on three lion’s paw feet.
Full description
Associated with Chirk Castle
Provenance
Amongst the chattels that, in 1978, were acquired along with Chirk Castle from Lt-Col Ririd Myddelton (1902–1988) by the National Land Fund and handed, on loan for 99 years, to the Secretary of State for Wales. In 1981 Chirk was transferred into the ownership of the National Trust. On loan to the Trust from Guy Charles Myddelton. Gifted to Guy C. Myddelton from Captain David Myddelton in 2010. Purchased by the National Trust from Mr Guy Myddelton in 2023.
Makers and roles
William Ince & John Mayhew (fl. 1759-99), furniture designer and maker
References
Roberts, H. and Cator, C., Industry and Ingenuity: The Partnership of William Ince and John Mayhew (PWP, London, 2022), pp.211-13, Figure 34 [drawing] and Figure 422 [torchere]