Pair of Candelabras with Poppy flowers in gilt, patinated and chased bronze.
Gilt and patinated chased bronze.
France.
Directoire.
↕ 65 cm.
A pair of three-light candelabra in finely chased, gilt and patinated bronze.
On their patinated bronze cylindrical bases, surrounded by palmettes-zone, masks and draperies, stands a patinated bronze couple, dressed in Antique style. Their hair and the drape of their toga showcase an impressive chasing. They carry one vase each, and from the vases emerge the arms of light, decorated with acanthus leaves and poppy flowers.
There were two other similar pairs registered in the French Mobilier National in 1911. One was at the Palais de l’Élysée, the other at the Hôtel de la Marine, then Ministry of the Navy. Ours, however, are remarkable by their size : 65 cm high, compared to the 50.5 cm of those at the Élysée.
As for pairs of the same size of this iconic model, two went on sale in the 21st century : one was sold for £24,000 at Sotheby's on November 28, 2006 ; the other, sold at Koller on September 21, 2006 for 16,000 Swiss francs.
Sources
Ernest Dumonthier, Les Bronzes du mobilier national, t. II, Paris, 1911.
