Antique single carved wooden lotus flower shape curtain hold back in old gilt gesso finish

A wonderful antique French carved wooden curtain hold back in the shape of a flower bud and crown of leaves, I think it represents a lotus flower.
In a grand French home, the drapes or curtains at the doors and windows were usually held back with these wooden stoppers, which were bracketed into the wall at the side or into the wooden panelling around the window. French windows and doors were dressed with a single drape, swept to one side and hooked over the hold back in a dramatic swathe. Each window had a single hold back, but often the salons and chambres had several windows, each had its own drape and hold back.

The top of the hold back is in the form of a flower bud on a stem which protrudes from a crown of foliage, cup shaped and having a circular flared base. I believe the wood to be a softwood. It is probable that this item is Nineteenth Century or perhaps early Twentieth Century.
There is a lovely gilt gesso finish to this item, gold over red size.
The hold back has some areas of loss and discolouration to the finish, and some nibbles of old worm damage (long dead) see photos. It is fresh from the attics of an eighteenth century chateau and I have not cleaned or polished it, preferring to offer in original as found condition. The original metal spike remains. The hold-back price reflects condition.

Size approx 18cm long, plus 5cm spike. 10cm diameter at widest part which is the foliate crown, 4.5cm diameter at base. Price is for one single hold back.


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Our items are carefully selected antique and vintage pieces from France and they show the character and charm of years of use. We do not sell new or reproduction items so you can expect to find signs of the age and life that the piece has led. We believe this history adds to the story of an item. Obvious damage and faults will always be mentioned in our descriptions but minor age-related condition issues are not considered a detriment.