Sculpture of the Day: King George IV’s “Mercury & Bacchus” Candelabrum

This magnificent centerpiece was the finest piece of King George IV’s fantastic set of plate. Thought it appears to have always been the monumental work that it is today, this is actually a marriage of two pieces to which additional parts were later added.

Candelabrum with
Figures of Mercury and
The Infant Bacchus,
Rundell, Bridge, & Rundell
1809-1810
1816-1817
The Royal Collection

In 1809, King George IV commissioned the goldsmiths at Rundell, Bridge & Rundell to create a group of mythological figures showing Mercury presenting the infant Bacchus to the nymphs after being removed from the thigh of his father, Jupiter.

In 1811, the sculptural groups—which included figures of piping fauns—were combined into one large centerpiece. By this point, the astronomical sum of over £3000 had been spent on this piece. By 1816, the piece was deemed not grand enough and Rundell’s was asked to create stems and upper branches to make the group into a candelabrum. And, so, we see it this way today.

Truly the most ornate and intricate of George IV’s collection of silver-gilt banqueting pieces, the piece finds its way into use every so often for grand events. I’m sure it looks every bit as impressive as it did on George’s table.