These elaborate newel posts were hand-carved in France, circa 1880. At some point, the oak wood was stripped, leaving minimal traces of the original darker finish.
Newel posts are upright pillars used to support the handrails of staircases. Although a newel post’s primary function is structural, they are often aesthetically appealing, being either tightly turned pieces or highly carved. Our well-carved newel posts have a half-gourd shape and would have been flanking the base of a beautiful set of stairs. A rectangular plinth is surmounted by a large volute acanthus leaf. The “tail” of each volute extends upwards, branching out along the edge of the straight back. Similar carvings appear on both sides. Three acanthus leaf scrolls adorn the front side of each post, with the bottom leaf continuing downwards along the facing until it merges with the bulbous volute.
Our great looking French bleached oak newel...
Category
French Antique Late 19th Century Stairs