acanthus

A leaf used in Classical ornament, particularly on Corinthian capitals (the tops of Corinthian columns); frequently found on furniture as carved decoration or cast bronze ornament, particularly from the French, Louis XVI period.

Antiques From Our Gallery

Item No. 1199 Pair of Italian, Neoclassical period candelabras In solid, carved giltwood; each having seven arms in gilt iron. Adorned with acanthus leaves; fluted central stem; the whole resting upon a tripd base with clawed feet. 33" high by 17" in diameter

Item No. 1194 Exceptional, French, Louis XVI period Bergere In solid, carved giltwood vigorously carved in neoclassical motifs (guilloches, acanthus leaves); the backrest having two fluted and detached columns; the whole resting upon spiral, fluted legs. Circa 1780, Paris. Stamped: Louis Charles Carpentier 37" high by 27½" wide by 25" deep

Item No. 1169 Pair of French, Louis XIV period torcheres In solid carved natural wood. The upper elements vigorously carved with acanthus leaves, the central columns, triangular in form, pierced and adorned with male masks, the whole resting on a tripod base having sculpted leaves, volutes and lambrequins. Circa 1670. Provenance: Sale in Versailles, Palais des Congres, Commissaire-Priseur Jean-Paul Chapelle, March 3, 1968-acquired by Georges Hereil, Paris. 1981: The estate of Georges Hereil, by descent to GG. 66" high

Item No. 1165 Pair of Northern European, Louis XV period, tabourets In solid carved giltwood; each one elaborately carved with seashells and acanthus leaves, the cabriole legs ending in escargot feet. Circa 1740. 25" wide by 17½" deep by 19" high

Item No. 1163 Pair of Italian, Neoclassical period Torcheres Painted and parcel-gilded adorned with acanthus leaves, ram's heads, pateraes, and garlands, resting upon claw feet. Circa 1810-1815. 64" high by 13" diameter

Item No. 1162 Italian, Renaissance style refectory table In solid, carved walnut; carved on all four sides with gadrooned edge; the top inset with leather writing surface; the whole support vigorously carved with acanthus leaves and caryatids. Rome, circa 1825. 57" wide

Item No. 1157 Irish, George III period mirror In giltwood exuberantly carved with branches, acanthus leaves, and berries. Circa 1770. 68" high by 35" wide

Item No. 1141 French, Louis XV period, giltwood canape With exhuberantly-carved, sepentine frame, quintessential Louis XV motifs including seashells, acanthus leaves, and foliage, having three seats upholstered in floral-patterned, silk damask, the whole resting upon eight cabriole legs. Mid-18th century, attributed to Louis Cresson. 86" wide

Item No. 1139 French, Louis XVI style, gilt bronze and alabaster mantle clock Delicately cast bronze, crowned with two seated cherubim, one holding grapes and the other a triangle; the clock's face surmounted by a Bacchic mask, flanked by ram's heads and ornamental, flowering trees; the whole mercury gilded and liberally adorned with acanthus leaves and resting upon an alabaster base and highly stylized, toupee feet. First half of the 19th century. 13" wide by 14" high

Item No. 1128 Pair of French, Louis XV style canapés In solid, carved giltwood. One of the period (mid-18th century), the other later (19th century). Each having six legs elegantly carved with shells, acanthus leaves, and pomegranates. Created for le Château de Dampierre, a castle in Dampierre-en-Yvelines, in the Vallée de Chevreuse, France. 45" wide by 35" high

Item No. 1122 Pair of large, Baroque (Louis XIV) style torcheres In solid, carved giltwood. Of balluster form decorated with stylized acanthus leaves and grotesques (male figured masks). Inscribed "LA MARECHALERIE (...)/Avenue (...) PARIS FRANCE" 19th century. 56¼" high by 18½" diameter

Item No. 1113 Ancient, Apulian lékanis (Greek vase with lid) With red decoration, including female figure and acanthus leaves on black background. 320 BCE. Magna Graecia. 4" tall by 7" wide (at handles)

Item No. 892 Very fine, English Regency period, rosewood and brass-inlaid center table With original tilt-top mechanism, giltwood acanthus leaf and faux rosewood grain stem, and unusual square plinth (base) resting upon four bronze winged claw feet. Attributed to George Smith, circa 1805-1810. 50" diameter by 29½" high

Item No. 931 Large, Italian, Louis XVI period carved console From Torino with medallions, garlands, and acanthus leaves carved in solid linden wood. Original blue, gray, and beige Brocatello marble top. Circa 1780 56" wide by 25½" deep by 35" high

Item No. 945 Spanish, Renaissance period walnut caixa The rectangular moulded top above carved panels depicting shell-headed flowering urn flanked by acanthus and divided by scrolled pilasters, the sides carved conformingly, with moulded plinth and scrolled feet, the feet replaced. Late 16th or early 17th century. 30¾" high by 63½" wide by 27¼" deep

Item No. 977 Very fine, French, early Louis XV period mirror a parcloses In solid giltwood vigorously carved with flowers and acanthus leaves; the upper pierced cartouche centered by a winged dragon. Circa 1735. 59" high by 36" wide

Item No. 1077 Very fine, Empire period chandelier In gilt bronze and patinated bronze, elaborately chased with ten arms, ornamented with winged angels crowned with laurel leaves, acanthus leaf corona, pinecone finial, and five chains adorned with acanthus leaves and grapes. Circa 1810.

Item No. 1076 Very fine, French, Louis XV period console table In solid, carved giltwood; of Rocaille form with arbalette front, cabriole legs, acanthus ornament, original, Breche marble top, and upper and lower cartouche (pierced shell aprons). Mid-18th century.

Item No. 1066 Pair of fine, Northern Italian, Neoclassical period, painted and parcel gilded fauteuils Of large dimensions with rounded backs draped with acanthus leaves, having Greek key apron and arms terminating in acanthus leaf carving; the front legs tapered and fluted, the rear legs of sabre form. Circa 1800. 41" high by 26" wide by 24" deep

Item No. 946 Pair of fine, French, Louis XV-XVI Transition period console tables In solid carved giltwood, each having an upper cartouche pierced with roses and lower cartouche centered with corbeille a fleurs (basket of flowers), the whole vigorously carved in guilloche (repeating, interlocking circles) motif, having volutes (scrolls) and acanthus leaves. With Breche marble tops in beige with rose veining. Circa 1765. 34½" high by 27½" wide by 17" deep