Lot Essay
These candelabra are typically Roman in their use of various marbles, ormolu, silvered and patinated bronze in one design. In the late 18th century there were several craftsmen capable of making these type of objects which required the craftsmanship of the marble carver and bronzier: Giacomo Raffaelli, Luigi and Guiseppe Valadier - whose workshop was next to that of Raffaelli; and Francesco and Luigi Righetti who were apperenticed to Luigi Valadier. The palm leaves and female herms on the present pair of candelabra are comparable to a pair of candelabra sold with Christie's Mallorca sale of Castillo de Bendinat, 24 May 1999, lot 379, (sold 37,000 euro). The typical double foliate motif alternated with flowerheads is comparable to a pair of brule parfums attributed to Francesco and Luigi Righetti, sold with Sotheby's Paris, 15 October 2003, lot 73.