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Lot Essay
THE DESIGN
The drawing from c. 1785 from the catalogue of the marchand-mercier Dominique Daguerre depicting a similarly draped maiden holding aloft a cornucopia is often cited as the source of inspiration for related candelabra (see H. Ottomeyer and P. Pröschel et. al., Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, vol. I, p. 283, fig. 4.14.4). Variations to the drapery, pose and modesty of the figures demonstrate the long-lived popularity and diversity such design enjoyed through the late 18th and 19th centuries, and explains the various attributions which have been suggested.
THE ATTRIBUTION
While further related candelabra with more stiffly-modelled figures and heavy folds of drapery have also been attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire (1751-1843), among which a pair sold at Christie's, London, 27 May 1999, lot 352 ($123,500 with premium), or to the bronzier Clodion (1738-1814), most of the related models have been attributed to foremost ciseleur-doreur François Rémond (1746-1812). Among such, a pair is in the Musée du Louvre, Paris (ill. in D. Alcouffe, Gilt Bronzes in the Louvre, Dijon, 2004, p. 188, fig. 95) and a set of four closely related candelabra possibly retailed by Daguerre, to whom Rémond was chief supplier, is in the Wallace Collection (P. Hughes, The Wallace Collection Catalogue of Furniture, London, 1996, vol. III, cat. no. 251, pp. 1271-1276).
The drawing from c. 1785 from the catalogue of the marchand-mercier Dominique Daguerre depicting a similarly draped maiden holding aloft a cornucopia is often cited as the source of inspiration for related candelabra (see H. Ottomeyer and P. Pröschel et. al., Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, vol. I, p. 283, fig. 4.14.4). Variations to the drapery, pose and modesty of the figures demonstrate the long-lived popularity and diversity such design enjoyed through the late 18th and 19th centuries, and explains the various attributions which have been suggested.
THE ATTRIBUTION
While further related candelabra with more stiffly-modelled figures and heavy folds of drapery have also been attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire (1751-1843), among which a pair sold at Christie's, London, 27 May 1999, lot 352 ($123,500 with premium), or to the bronzier Clodion (1738-1814), most of the related models have been attributed to foremost ciseleur-doreur François Rémond (1746-1812). Among such, a pair is in the Musée du Louvre, Paris (ill. in D. Alcouffe, Gilt Bronzes in the Louvre, Dijon, 2004, p. 188, fig. 95) and a set of four closely related candelabra possibly retailed by Daguerre, to whom Rémond was chief supplier, is in the Wallace Collection (P. Hughes, The Wallace Collection Catalogue of Furniture, London, 1996, vol. III, cat. no. 251, pp. 1271-1276).