Doe and Hope

Description

The generously sized unusual early nineteenth century stripped pine carving in the form of a neoclassical urn, classically shaped, having a conical body, gadrooned and fluted, tapering to circular socle bases on a (later?) square plinth, the whole terminating with a an acorn type finial and surviving from the first quarter of the nineteenth century and Townley Hall, County Louth, Republic of Ireland.

The condition of the whole is good with some small fissures as photographed. She is sturdy though and does not require any restoration. She has acquired, through the years, a fantastic dry texture with a limey hue akin to 16thC oak as is the table she is photographed on. The square base is probably later.

There are similiar designed urns of this period carved in treen as large knife boxes or ice boxes, and some of Portland stone but rarely carved in wood solely as a decorative object, and it is certainly rather unusual and scarce. She fits in well as part of the overall classic and elegant aesthetic of the Regency period.

Townley Hall is a Georgian country house which stands in parkland at Tullyallen some 5 km west of Drogheda, County Louth in the Republic of Ireland. It was designed by Irish architect Francis Johnston for the Townley Balfour family and built between 1794 and 1798.

Built in 1799, Townley Hall is regarded as a masterpiece in the classical style of Francis Johnston, the foremost Irish architect of his day. It sits in quiet seclusion of private grounds, approached by a long wooded avenue. Commissioned as a private home for the Townley Balfour family, it was designed to impress on the visitor not only the wealth and sophistication of a substantial landlord, but the craftsmanship available in the local area. Having undergone only minor alterations in over two centuries, this house is one of Ireland’s hidden architectural gems.

A beautiful decorators piece with a dreamy texture and of a punchy size.