A RARE PAIR OF GEORGE III COADE STONE FIGURAL CANDELABRA BY ELEANOR COADE, LATE 18TH CENTURY

A RARE PAIR OF GEORGE III COADE STONE FIGURAL CANDELABRA
BY ELEANOR COADE, LAMBETH, LATE 18TH CENTURY
The design attributed to John Bacon, one modelled as a Vestal the other as a Sibyl, each holding a candle branch socket, on circular plinth, both stamped 'COADE LAMBETH" to plinths, stamped Coade to the undersides, monogrammed with an 'R' inside the torsos
approximately 140cm high to top of lights, bases 43.5cm diameter

Eleanor Coade (d.1821) opened her Lambeth Manufactory for ceramic artificial stone in 1769 and appointed the sculptor John Bacon as its manager two years later. With proven durability of her product (other makers work was seen to disintegrate within a few frosts) she was soon employed by a large number of the leading late 18th century architects. From about 1777 she began her engraved designs, which were published in 1784 in a catalogue of over 700 items entitled "A Descriptive Catalogue of Coade's Artificial Stone Manufactory". The design for this rare pair of figures feature twice- firstly as numbers 4 and 5- a Vestal and "Sybil" and subsequently and with the addition of candle branches as "Statues to hold Light" and depicted in the 1784 catalogue as numbers 34 and 35, £16.6.0 each.

By the time of the 1799 publication "Coade's Gallery, or, Exhibition in artificial stone" the descriptions were expanded to reflect the growing taste for Neoclassicism. Where possible the sculptor's names were indicated and the Sybil is referred to as being inspired or derived from the one "in the Barbarini collection" (Mrs Coade's spelling). These two figures were among the successful designs of the Lambeth artificial stone manufacture and similar pairs of figures (with and without candle branches) adorn both interiors and exterior settings such as the main gate posts of Malvern Hall, Solihull.