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. 1216 French, Regence Period Mirror In solid, carved giltwood with parcloses; in two sections, the pediment elegantly adorned with sea shells, scrolls, flowers, and acanthus leaves; the lower section rectangular in form with frame a la berain. Original mecury glass and original gilding. Circa 1720 Provenance: Sotheby's Monaco 1983 66 inches high by 34¼ inches wide

Item No. 895 Pair of Italian, Neoclassical, white-painted and parcel-gilt demi-lune console tables Ornamented with Neoclassical elements including acanthus leaves, acorns, vines, pateraes, resting upon four tapered and fluted legs. With later conforming rose marble tops with beveled edges. Florence, Italy. Circa 1785. 35¾" high by 49¾" wide by 25½" deep

Item No. 1211 Italian, Renaissance Period side table In solid carved walnut with gilded accents, rectilinear in form having central baluster adorned with swags and surrounded by four columns decorated with acanthus leaves, the whole resting on a guilloches patterned base resting on lion claw feet. Restorations of maintenance. Circa late 16th century or early 17th century. 27½" by 25¾" by 31" high

Item No. 1210 French, Regence Period console table In solid carved giltwood, the whole resting on four legs terminating in hairy hooved feet, sculpted with volutes, shells and acanthus leaves. Surmounted by grey, blue Breccia marble with double bevel. Circa 1725-1730. 51¾" wide by 33¼" high by 25¾" deep

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 824 Very fine, Spanish, Neoclassical, flame mahogany and parcel-gilt coiffeuse The whole resting upon four acanthus-leaf decorated feet; the upper compartment with looking glass of large dimensions between two Corinthian columns resting upon a single drawer; The lower compartment having three drawers, with the top drawer opening to reveal a writing compartment; Circa 1820. Provenance: Collection d' Ariane Dandois. 82" high by 34¾" wide by 20¼" deep