Late Victorian Carved Softwood Triton Wall Bracket

A Victorian softwood figural wall bracket or corbel, modelled as a youthful triton or merman. The figure is depicted with the torso of an infant and twin bifurcated scrolling fishtails, balancing upon a stylised rocaille foot. One arm rests raised to the temple while the head supports a flared capital and a shaped, scalloped demi-lune shelf above.

Architectural ornaments of this character was produced widely across Britain and Continental Europe during the latter half of the nineteenth century, intended both for interior display and for conservatories or sheltered exterior settings. The piece exhibits a dark, distressed patina and bubbled varnish as if it had been subjected to an adjacent house fire.