17th-Century Floral Marquetry Candle Stand, Circa 1675-1690

In 2017 the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York decided to auction a number of pieces of exceptional merit, too include this – IMPORTANT, exceptional, unique and extremely rare marquetry candle stand C.1675-1690.

The octagonal Paduke banded marquetry top depicts an exquisitely executed parrot to the centre, surrounded by fine spring flowers in holly, sycamore and tropical hardwoods. The vibrant green stained leaves of bone bring such vibrancy and colour to the marquetry, a detail most likely adopted from the influx of Huguenot cabinet makers in England, in the 17th century. Supported by a figured walnut six-sided tapering column, terminating on scroll legs of walnut, with original inverted walnut finial. The top is fixed to the base with its original hand-cut wooden screw thread.

Letter as received from seller – “This auction item was purchased February 19th, 2017 from our gallery at 5644 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609 as lot 2098 in sale #581. The piece was property from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The description and provenance details as they were listed in the February catalogue reads as follows “English walnut, ebony, satinwood and ivory occasional table, signed John Watson, circa 1700, having an octagonal top with a floral decorated border centering a parrot, above the turned standard and rising on a later tripod base, with inswept feet, 35″h x 14″dia. Property of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Sold to Benefit the Acquisitions Fund.”

We did not believe at the time the stand was later and have authenticated the base which is period circa 1700 and original to the top. The accreditation has the backing of our colleague Jim Broughton (Chairman of the British Antique Furniture Restorers Association) and Howard Walwyn (British Antiques Dealers Association member and masterpiece dealer).

The stand has also been exhibited at vetted antiques fair Olympia, in summer 2018.
We stand by our accreditation that the stand is 100% period and original to the top.

The underside is stamped John Watson 8 N…… and we cannot make out the rest. It is most likely that John was not the maker but the once custodian of the object and adjacent is most likely an inventory stamp. There is also 11.175.10 in red, which is the museum inventory number.