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Cliveden mansion, Melbourne. An antique French caryatid two branch wall sconce from the famed East Melbourne mansion, patinated bronze, 19th century, 15.35 in. high

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  • Caryatid - A Greek term that in architecture applies to a carved or cast female figures that acts as a column or pillar, supporting an entablature on her head.

    In decorative arts , in furniture of the Renaissance and Classical Revival periods. Male figures are known as Atlantes.

    Carved figures are rare on Australian furniture until the later 19th century, Australian craftsmen generally preferring to adopt the designs of the pattern books to rather more simple forms, such as scrolls or columns.
  • Bronze - An alloy of copper and tin, traditionally in the proportions of about 9 parts of copper to 1 part of tin.

    The discovery of bronze in Western Asia in the 4th century enabled people to create metal objects which were superior to those previoulsy possible because of its strength and hardness, and it has been used throughout the world for weapons, coins, tools, statuary and other decorative items.

    It is very fluid in a molten state, and its hardness, strength when set, and non-corrosive properties makes it most suitable for casting sculpture.
  • Sconce - A light attached to a wall. Originally a candle holder that is attached to a wall with an ornamental bracket and sometimes with a reflective back plate, but now applied to an electric light that has been inspired by that design.

    In recent times the word has also come into use to desribe the candle holders on a candelabra.

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Cliveden mansion, Melbourne. An antique French caryatid two…