An extremely rare and exquisite, Grand Tour-inspired architectural model of a classical column, representing the Corinthian order of architecture.
England, third quarter of 18th century.
 
Why we like it
Exquisitely carved from the best mahogany and having accents picked out in gold, this extremely rare survival from the golden age of Classical architecture in Britain was perhaps intended for an architect's office, or for a study of a gentleman architect, such as Lord Burlington (1694–1753), who was famously known as the "Apollo of the Arts" and the "Architect Earl". Such exquisite and decorative objects were copied from ancient Greek and Roman originals, that aspiring architects could see and draw during their 'Grand Tour' in Italy, Greece, Ottoman Empire and etc.
 
The only other comparable example of such rare objects that we came across was a set of three columns, previously owned by the late Sir Albert Richardson (1880–1964), architect, historian, writer, artist, teacher and sometime President of the Royal Academy –  sold by Christie’s London, 19 September 2013, lot 173 (£13,750). A comparable delicacy of the carving, in the manner of the 'St. Martin's Lane circle', suggests that our columns were very likely made by the same master-craftsman.
 
An equally exquisite Doric column is available too.
 
The Doric and the Corinthian orders are called the canonic orders of classical architecture.
Originating in the western Doric region of Greece, it is the earliest and, in its essence, the simplest of the orders, though still with complex details in the entablature above. In his monumental The Ten Books on Architecture, Vitruvius, who was an architect and architectural historian of the age of Augustus, associates the Doric order with the masculine proportions. In contrast, the Corinthian order, with its delicate features and profuse ornamentation, is associated with youthful femininity, 'an imitation of the slenderness of a maiden', according to Vitruvius. He relates a touching story of a young Corinthian girl, whose life was cut short by a sudden death. Her maid gathered some of the girl's possessions and placed them in a wicker basket by her grave. An acanthus bud which happened to be just beneath the basket, 'put forth leaves and stalks ... growing up along the sides of the basket ... bent into volutes at the outer edges'. Callimachus, the famous sculptor and architect, who discovered the scene completely by chance, and according to Vitruvius, was inspired by it to create the new style of column.
 
It appears that in the beginning, singular Corinthian columns were erected inside buildings constructed in Doric or Ionic orders, as votive elements. The earliest instance of such a column in history lies in the Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae. The first structure to adopt this style externally was the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates to celebrate theatrical performance.
 
Height: 29.75 in / 75.5 cm
Base: 9.75 in / 24.5 cm square