A PAIR OF DIRECTOIRE ORMOLU TWIN-BRANCH WALL-LIGHTS

CIRCA 1795-1800

細節

A PAIR OF DIRECTOIRE ORMOLU TWIN-BRANCH WALL-LIGHTS
CIRCA 1795-1800
Each with entwined caduceus backplate surmounted by Mercury's winged helmet, the acanthus boss issuing two scrolling foliate branches of spiral-twisted burnished form, with foliate drip-pans and fluted nozzles, one branch repaired
16¼ in. (41 cm.) high; 11 in. (28 cm.) wide (2)

來源

Acquired from Fersen, Paris, 1964.

榮譽呈獻

Victoria von Westenholz

vvonwestenholz@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2343

拍品專文

This pattern of wall-light was supplied by the bronzier-doreur Antoine-André Ravrio for the refurbishment of the château de Fontainebleau before the visit of Pope Pius VII in November 1804. Recorded in the Mémoire du 27 brumaire an XIII (18 November 1804) and described as '2 paires dito (très grands bras) à caducées, ormoulu, 3 branches 500', they were placed in the salon of Prince Joseph on the rez-de-chaussée. They may well, however, have been executed by the fondeur Disnematin, Ravrio's predecessor, who is known to have owned 'une paire à trois branches en caducée' in 1790 (J.-P. Samoyault, Pendules et bronzes d'ameublement entrés sous le Premier Empire, Paris, 1989, no. 97, p. 131).