The Family Collection of the late Countess Mountbatten of Burma
The Family Collection of the late Countess Mountbatten of Burma
Auction Closed
March 24, 08:41 PM GMT
Estimate
4,000 - 6,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
A George III faux marble and carved giltwood pedestal
circa 1770, in the manner of John Linnell
the fior di pesco marble inset top over a frieze applied with ribbon-tied foliage on square tapering supports with leaf-carved and beaded borders framing reserves applied with festoons on a green simulated marble ground together with two similar, later, examples with brown figured marble tops, possibly incorporating earlier elements
single 120cm. high, 26.5 by 26.5cm., and pair 123cm. high, 26.5 by 26.5cm.
The green japanned-cum-scagliola surface on these remarkable pedestals - the two later examples apparently incorporating this earlier element - is highly unusual but would have been in keeping with Robert Adam's interiors at Mersham and complimented the green japanned furniture supplied by Thomas Chippendale.
Peter Thornton (op. cit., fig. 15) illustrates a design for a pedestal by John Linnell of very similar form, which features neo-classical detailing, and a further closely related example by Linnell also forms part of the Victoria & Albert Museum's extensive collection of his workshop drawings (fig. 1). Whilst they provide an interesting comparison, Linnell is not known to have worked on the Mersham commission and given their architectural form, experimental finish and constructional idiosyncrasies - the fine giltwood leaf mouldings of the 18th century pedestal are pinned as though they were made of gilt-bronze - it is conceivable these were produced by one of Adam's stable of craftsman or an as yet unknown maker Sir Edward employed independently.