Live Auction 7918Living with Design: The Collections of Walter Lees and Mr NC.
A PAIR OF LATE GEORGE III MAHOGANY WATER URNS
Lot 263

A PAIR OF LATE GEORGE III MAHOGANY WATER URNS

CIRCA 1790-1800

Closed16 July 2010

Price Realised

GBP 22,500

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A PAIR OF LATE GEORGE III MAHOGANY WATER URNS
CIRCA 1790-1800
Each of ovoid form, with a carved pineapple finial above foliate carved and gadroon rimmed circular lid enclosing a lead lining, the bodies carved with husk swags above fluted and reeded bands, on a waisted socles and square plinth bases, each with pipe to the underside, the underside of each lid inscribed in ink '610'
31 in. (79 cm.) high (2)

Specialist note

The sideboard vases, of bacchic wine-krater form with pineapple-like thyrsic finials, are designed in the George III antique fashion popular around 1800. The use of the vases 'to hold water for the use of the butler, or iced water for drinking' is discussed in Messrs A. Hepplewhite & Co's The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Guide, 1788 (pls. 35 and 36).
A pattern for a Roman-medallioned pedestal with reeded vase featured in the Strand cabinet-maker Thomas Malton's Compleat Treatise on Perspective, 1775 (pl. 34 fig.129). The present urn pattern relates to one illustrated in Gillows Estimate Sketch Book in 1788 and 1792 (L. Boynton (ed.), Gillow Furniture Designs 1760-1800, Royston, 1995, fig. 190).