Barley twist turning has a real pedigree in French furniture and decorative woodwork, tracing back to the 17th century and staying in continuous use for exactly the kind of spiralling, columnar form seen here. Each holder is carved from pinewood, its shaft incised in the classic spiral pattern, topped with a spherical medallion and finished with brass capitals rather than plain wood, a small but useful contrast against the timber below.
The columns stand on round, stepped bases, giving the pair real height and a stable footprint despite the slender, twisting profile above. It's a design that's stayed recognisable across three centuries of French decorative use, and this mid-20th century pair carries that long tradition forward rather than reinventing it.
Condition notes
Very good vintage condition. Some light scuffing and staining to wood appropriate to age and use; the rim of one nozzle is uneven in one spot.
