An important pair of George III giltwood torchères circa 1770

Cut-glass and brass fittings associated.

Estate of Grace M. McGrath

Overall good condition; fittings to upper sections associated; lacking original fittings; gilding refreshed; minor nicks and wear to gilding and paint.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The present pair of palm-form torchères recalls most strongly the design of 1665 for the unexecuted bedchamber of Charles II by John Webb (nephew of Inigo Jones) and published by John Vardy in Some Desigsn of Mr. Inigo Jones and Mr. William Kent, circa 1744.  John Vardy completely reused this drawing for the south wall of the Palm Room at Spencer house as seen in his drawing of 1757 (illustrated, S. Weber Soros, James ‘Athenian’ Stuart, The Rediscovery of Antiquity, New Haven and London, 2007, pp. 202-203, figs. 5-11 and 5-12).   The actual execution of the room and this highly dramatic elevation was much more complex, Vardy adding a domed apse and arched window at the end.  James ‘Athenian’ Stuart worked with Vardy on the Spencer House commission and may have influenced a number of architectural decisions.  The famous suite of seat furniture from the Palm Room at Spencer house is carved using the palm motif throughout.  Unfortunately, no documentation exists to firmly identify the maker of the Palm Room suite; however, it was most likely designed by John Vardy and probably supplied by John Gordon who is listed from 1748 at Swallow Street and King Street off Golden Square, London. Gordon was patronized by the Duke of Atholl at Blair Castle, the Duke of Gordon and Sir John Griffin Griffin at Audley End.  For a discussion about the similarities of the Blair Castle suite and the Spencer House suite, see Peter Thornton and John Hardy 'The Spencer Furniture at Althorp - Section II', Apollo, June 1968, p. 448.

The State Bedroom at Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire is another important Palm Room.  This bedroom is commonly believed to have been designed by Robert Adam, who took over the re-decoration of Kedleston Hall in 1760 from James Stuart.  Although no Adam drawings survive for the decorative scheme of this room, it is known that in general the interior decoration of the rooms at Kedleston was executed by craftsmen working from drawings produced in Adams' studio including William and John Linnell who executed the famous figural sofas.  The state bedroom, the ante-room and the dressing room all contained furniture with the palm motif including pier glasses, the state bed and a pair of torchères all executed by the Derby carver James Gravenor in 1768.  Interestingly Adam sketched a boat with the mast in the form of a palm tree for the lake at Kedleston which was never executed (now in the V&A archives).  Perhaps this sketch provides a link to the designs of the suite in the state bedroom.