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  • image M559
Marble SM M559. ©A.C. Cooper (colour) Ltd

Base of a Roman candelabrum or tripod

Marble, probably Greek marble

Height: 31cm
Width: 33cm

Museum number: M559

Vermeule catalogue number: Vermeule 227help-vermeule-catalogue-number

On display: Museum South Passage
All spaces are in No. 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields unless identified as in No. 12, Soane's first house. For tours https://www.soane.org/your-visit

Curatorial note

The relief carvings of the three concave surfaces of this base comprise: reversed dolphins with tails entwined about vertical trident; and two Tritons set approaching each other on adjoining panels. They blow long shells carried in their cut off hands and hold paddles or rudders on their near shoulders with the others.

A semi-finished triangular central section, set in and 5 cm up from the finished top surface, indicates that the upper elements or next section fitted over this raised area and was held by it1.

1For the various interpretations of the Triton in decorative and especially Roman funerary relief, see F. Cumont, Recherches sur le Symbolisme Funeraire des Romains, Paris, 1942, pp. 147ff. and 167ff.

Provenance help-art-provenance

Unknown.

Associated items

M563, another similar


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