Ebonised wooden column with turned spiral shaft – Napoleon III, 19th c.

An elegant black column or pedestal in ebonised wood, in the Napoleon III style. The shaft is turned with rings and balusters and carries spiral fluting in the middle. It rests on a round, stepped socle on a square base with cut-out feet, and has a square top with a moulded edge. Ebonised columns like this were widely made in the second half of the 19th century to display a bust, sculpture, vase or plant; comparable sellettes in bois noirci are dated to the same period by French dealers. The deep black with its soft sheen and the interplay of straight and turned forms make this column timeless. At 112.5 cm high it is just right for presenting an object at eye level. Beautiful in a classic, Hollywood Regency or eclectic interior, and as a graphic black accent against a light wall in a modern interior. Lovely with a white bust, a large fern or a vase of branches. Condition: good, with signs of use. The top has scratches and a dull patch in the centre, and the edges are lightly worn so that the wood shows through here and there. Small losses to the black finish on a ring below the top and a fine shrinkage crack in one of the lower balusters. The base has small worn spots on the edges. Stands firmly; no missing parts.