Italian
Tripod, mid 15th century
Wrought iron, height: 91.5 cm (36 in.)
A wrought iron tripod stands on three slender legs that join and are twisted before expanding to form the three brackets to hold a circular tray. There is delicate filigree in the area formed below the brackets. There are curlicues where the legs are joined and halfway up the center pillar. The tray is shallow with repeating raised vertical lines surrounding the lip.
Raphael Room
Commentary
This wrought iron tripod is adorned with various dragon motifs, both decorative and functional. Along the shaft and spandrels, small twisted dragons with long, flicking tongues give the tripod a whimsical appearance. At the top of the shaft, three robust dragons erupt outwards, forming the foundation to support a bowl or basin.
This piece first appears in Isabella’s collection in a 1900 photograph of her Beacon Street home (ARC.010183). True to fashion, Isabella used the tripod in an unexpected way: she adapted it into a flower stand.