A Superb Pair of Giltwood Girandoles Attributed to William France
Height: 60" 152.4cm
Width: 32" 81.3cm
This highly important carved giltwood girandole attributed to William France with its matching mirror of a later date. The mirrors each with a cartouche-shaped moulded frame with long scrolls and issuing foliate scrolls and husks, the frame continuing upward to support further moulded scrolls and foliate ornament enclosing a forward spray of leafy plumes with ruffled edges and surmounted by an anthemion, the continuing scrolls at the base enclosing a cabochon within scrolls and leaves, and with three foliate ornamented scrolled arms supporting gilt-metal candle holders in the form of joined leaves.
English, Circa 1760
A pair of similar girandoles attributed to William France and John Bradburn were commissioned for Sir Lawrence Dundas, 19 Arlington Street, London
William France had a wonderfully successful career and a remarkably distinguished patronage. His clients included Sir Lawrence Dundas at 19 Arlington St and Moor Park, the 6th Earl of Coventry at Croome Court, John Chute at The Vyne, 1st Duke of Northumberland at Syon House, and the 1st Earl of Mansfield at Kenwood House. France was under the employment of William Vile and John Cobb, until in 1764 he entered into partnership with Bradburn
Bradburne, and together they worked on a number of highly important commissions for the royal family including the Lodge at Richmond, Prince of Wale's and the King's apartments at St James, and the pavilions at Hampton Court.
Country Life, September 17, 1921, 'London Houses - 19 Arlington Street, A Residence of The Marquess of Zetland', pp. 350-355, fig. 7
Arthur T Bolton, The Architecture of Robert James Adam, London, 1922, Vol. II, p. 345, and Part VI - Capter XXXVII, Furniture, pp. 288-317
Apollo Magazine, September 1967, Anthony Coleridge, 'Some Rococo Cabinet-Makers and Sir Lawrence Dundas', pp. 214-225, fig 4.
G. Beard & C. Gilbert, Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840, pp. 95-97, pp. 316-317
John Cornforth, London Interiors, London, 2000, pp. 53-55.
Graham Child, World Mirrors 1650-1900, fig. 217, illustrated.
 "A Superb Pair of Giltwood Girandoles Attributed to William France")