Pedestal
Robert Adam (Kirkcaldy 1728 - London 1792)
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1776
Materials
Giltwood, paint
Measurements
127.2 x 45 x 45 cm
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Osterley Park and House, London
NT 771778.2
Summary
A tripod candlestand, or pedestal, one of a pair, designed by Robert Adam (1728-92) in 1776, possibly made by John Linnell (1729-96), cabinet-maker of Berkeley Sq., London. Triangular in form and with canted corners and concae sides. Topped by a moulded 'cornice' above a frieze carved with intertwined garlands of husks framing flowerheads. Above a run of double calyx flowers within an arcade. Each corner mounted with a classical female mask either side of a fan patera and a painted oval medallion. The stretcher beneath carved with an opposing run of Vitruvian scrolls above an openwork section carved with fans, urns, calyx, flowerheads and garlands above a further stretcher carved with guilloche. Raised on three paw feet, a further open board and three recumbent sphinxes and a moulded base.
Full description
Designed by Robert Adam (1728-96) for the Tapestry Room at Osterley - a beautiful, coloured drawing of this pedestal survives in the Soane Museum [Adam Volume 17/62], dated 13 November 1776 - these stands were described in the inventory taken at Osterley in 1782 as ‘exceeding elegant’. They may have been made by John Linnell (1729-96) but no comparable stands, or designs, survive from his workshop. In contrast to some of the furniture in this exhibition made earlier in the 18th century, they are in the mature neo-Classical style, being classical both in decoration and form. Adam’s focus on cohesive interiors comes to full fruition with these stands, and they incorporate motifs found not only in the Tapestry Room for which they were made, but also in the adjoining State Bedroom and Drawing Room.
Provenance
Osterley Park Heirloom
Makers and roles
Robert Adam (Kirkcaldy 1728 - London 1792), designer