An Extremely Fine French Walnut Adjustable Easel with Carved Lion Mask, c.1870

An Extremely Fine French Walnut Adjustable Easel with Carved Lion Mask, c.1870 Conceived in the renaissance revival style, this fine adjustable easel is sculpted entirely from walnut with two removable roundels which allow for adjustments in size. There are many refinements to this particular model, starting with the lovely lions’ paw feet with winged knee detailing and hairy fetlocks. The central splat has a beautiful carved strapwork cartouche with swag detailing. At the top of the piece is a carved cresting and, below that and underneath double arched mouldings, is an exceptionally finely-carved lion mask flanked by scrolling ornament and out spreading corbels with leaf carving. A piece like this would have been designed as a display piece to hold paintings in a fine interior rather than something to be used by an artist but it would function equally well in either scenario today.