Italian, Venice
Pair of Torchères, 18th century
Iron, 183 cm (72 1/16 in.)
This is a pair of ornamental, six-foot tall iron torcheres, or floor lamps. Each one has a three-legged base resting on a center spike and a ball foot below each leg. Scrolling iron openwork from each leg meets part way up at the center spike. From that point, the iron openwork scrolls around the spike up to the top of each stand. Decorative details including leaves and birds adorn the scrolling pieces of iron. At the top, each central spike pierces through a flat square of iron and narrows to a sharp point used to hold a candle in place.
Long Gallery
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.