ATTRIBUTED TO GERARD-JEAN GALLE, CIRCA 1820

Details

A PAIR OF RESTAURATION ORMOLU FIVE-LIGHT CANDELABRA
ATTRIBUTED TO GERARD-JEAN GALLE, CIRCA 1820
One with an armour-clad figure of Mars, the other Minerva, each against a martial trophy of spears and axes, the fasces stem surmounted by crossed flags and issuing four trumpet branches, on a stepped square plinth centred by a martial trophy, drilled for electricity with consequential minor replacements to central stem, Minerva with a replaced plume to her helmet and replaced spear
30 ¾ in. (78 cm.) high

Provenance

Anonymous sale; Christie’s, New York, 22 May 2002, lot 496.

Special notice

This lot will be removed to Christie’s Park Royal. Christie’s will inform you if the lot has been sent offsite. Our removal and storage of the lot is subject to the terms and conditions of storage which can be found at Christies.com/storage and our fees for storage are set out in the table below - these will apply whether the lot remains with Christie’s or is removed elsewhere. Please call Christie’s Client Service 24 hours in advance to book a collection time at Christie’s Park Royal. All collections from Christie’s Park Royal will be by pre-booked appointment only. Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 9060 Email: cscollectionsuk@christies.com. If the lot remains at Christie’s it will be available for collection on any working day 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Lots are not available for collection at weekends.

Brought to you by

Amelia Walker

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Lot Essay

The attribution of these striking martial candelabra to Gérard-Jean Galle is based on their close comparison to a pair of candelabra forming the flanking elements of a clock garniture that was signed 'Galle / rue Vivienne nr. 9'. The garniture was ordered in Paris in 1820 for the King of Sweden, at a cost of 2200 francs. Delivered by 1823 to the Royal Palace in Stockholm, they remain there to this day (H. Ottomeyer, P. Pröschel et al., Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, p. 396, fig. 5.18.9; the figures erroneously identified as Odysseus and Telemachus; Minerva missing her shield). Gérard-Jean Galle (1788-1846) was the son of the bronzier Claude Galle (1759-1815).

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