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ALEXANDRE-LOUIS BELLANGÉ (1799-1863)

Candle stand

c 1824

RCIN 21691

Each candle stand is fitted with twelve plaques and one cushion-shaped section, all of Paris porcelain. The mounts are of bronze chased and gilt. The octagonal top, encased in a chamfered moulding of gilt bronze, is fitted with four porcelain plaques overlain by a pierced gilt bronze membrane chased with foliage. The shaft is divided into registers: at the top is a splayed purplewood support, below which is a gilt bronze moulding chased with foliage and interlacing, which crowns a rounded cushion-like section in porcelain. The tapered shaft, which is inset on each face with a recessed porcelain plaque, is crowned by an incurving acanthus-leaf collar with goats’ heads at the four corners and terminates at the bottom in a pedestal mounted on each face with a rosette raised on foliate bear-paw feet, all in gilt bronze. The stepped base, each step of conforming design, is square in section with recessed rounded corners. The top step is of bronze, the middle step of mahogany with gilt bronze foliate enrichments, and the bottom step panelled in porcelain. The whole rests on four scrolled shield-like feet, S-shaped in profile. The porcelain is of hard-paste Paris porcelain. The dark blue ground colour is overlaid in gold with trellis patterns of differing design (much worn in parts). The trophies on the cushion-shaped sections vary from reserve to reserve and from pedestal to pedestal. They include emblems of love, pastoral subjects, music and the theatre. The trophies on the bases, emblematic of gardening, music and love, vary from reserve to reserve. The flowers on the plaques include roses, convolvulus, anemones (some double-headed), poppies, auriculas, forget-me-nots, passionflowers, foxgloves, carnations, etc. George IV probably bought these candle stands as five pairs of which two now remain in the Royal Collection. They were acquired In Paris between 1820 and 1825 and were purchased with the furnishing of Windsor Castle in mind. Two were included in Morel and Seddon’s room designs, dating from c.1826, of the south and west elevations of The Drawing Room at Windsor Castle. Inscribed on .2, in ink: L.P. Di [?] d[ ], Le 10m Gait Oct 184[?5]. Text adapted from French Porcelain: In the Collection of Her Majesty The Queen, London, 2009

    The income from your ticket contributes directly to The Royal Collection Trust, a registered charity. The aims of The Royal Collection Trust are the care and conservation of the Royal Collection, and the promotion of access and enjoyment through exhibitions, publications, loans and educational activities.