A pierced brass lyre / harp rises above a ledge of acanthus leaves on this tabletop easel, ready to cradle a favorite plate, photograph, or book.
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Maker: Unmarked
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Materials: Brass
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Dimensions: 7.5" tall x 3.5" wide x 3" deep (open)
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Era: Vintage 1950s-1960s
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Condition: Excellent. No loose joints and no missing pieces, with a vintage brass tone and natural age patina. Please review photos closely before purchasing, as all sales are final.
The cast front is an openwork lyre and/or harp with a pierced palmette finial, beaded borders, and detailed acanthus leaf scrollwork. A ledge of curling acanthus leaves, held out from the plate by two brass rods, supports whatever you display, and the hinged rear leg folds flat for storage. The cast detail carries a soft patina in the recesses.
A lovely way to show off a decorative plate, a framed photo, or a book, and a thoughtful gift for anyone who loves classic Regency-style decor.
The lyre has been a symbol of music and the arts since ancient Greece, where it was the instrument of Apollo. It returned to fashion in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, when Neoclassical and Regency designers used it on furniture, clocks, and mirrors. The motif was revived again in Hollywood Regency decor, whose glamorous brass accessories stayed popular on mantels and consoles through the 1950s and 1960s. Cast brass easels in this style were made in several countries during those decades. This one carries no maker's mark, so its origin can't be pinned down, but its detailing is typical of that revival.
Browse our shop for more brass decor to round out your collection.
