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Lot Essay
This very fine design was first used on a series of six candlesticks made in 1737 by Jacques Roettiers as part of the famous service dated between 1735 and 1738, engraved with the arms of Berkeley, probably for Augustus 4th Earl of Berkeley (1716-1755) as a coming of age present from his father James 3rd Earl of Berkeley (c. 1680-1736). The service was later sold by order of the Trustees of the will of the late Randal Thomas Mowbray, 8th Earl of Berkeley at Sotheby's, London, 16 June 1960.
Despite its charm, the model does not appear to have been subsequently reproduced by Roettiers until the present pair made in 1764 engraved with for the bishop of Toulon, Alexandre de Lascaris de Vintimille (1711-1786) although no direct connection can be established between the two commissions.
Their design certainly inspired that of the candlesticks made by Jacques-Nicolas Roettiers for the service of Prince Gregory Orlovsky known as Orloff (1734-1783) in 1771 (Louvre Museum, Paris, OA 8250 1 and 2). Although the latter is much affirmed neoclassical style, the candlesticks share the same triangular section framed by scrolls to hold, in the case of the Orloff design, a rosette whilst on the Berkeley model Roettiers used three finely chased scenes depicting playful putti. One of the scenes figuring putti playing with bubbles is after a painting by Balthasar van Lemens (1637-1704) a Flemish painter from Antwerp working in England from 1637 and whose work was engraved by John Smith (c. 1652-c.1742). This print would have been available to Jacques Roettiers who was living in London between 1732 and 1733 and he used it for the Berkeley candlesticks and later again for the present pair of candlesticks.
For a biography on Jacques Roettiers see lot 13.
Despite its charm, the model does not appear to have been subsequently reproduced by Roettiers until the present pair made in 1764 engraved with for the bishop of Toulon, Alexandre de Lascaris de Vintimille (1711-1786) although no direct connection can be established between the two commissions.
Their design certainly inspired that of the candlesticks made by Jacques-Nicolas Roettiers for the service of Prince Gregory Orlovsky known as Orloff (1734-1783) in 1771 (Louvre Museum, Paris, OA 8250 1 and 2). Although the latter is much affirmed neoclassical style, the candlesticks share the same triangular section framed by scrolls to hold, in the case of the Orloff design, a rosette whilst on the Berkeley model Roettiers used three finely chased scenes depicting playful putti. One of the scenes figuring putti playing with bubbles is after a painting by Balthasar van Lemens (1637-1704) a Flemish painter from Antwerp working in England from 1637 and whose work was engraved by John Smith (c. 1652-c.1742). This print would have been available to Jacques Roettiers who was living in London between 1732 and 1733 and he used it for the Berkeley candlesticks and later again for the present pair of candlesticks.
For a biography on Jacques Roettiers see lot 13.