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Lot Essay
This pair of candelabra relates to one in the Wallace Collection in gilt bronze which has a similar group of three youths supporting a spray of branches from which flowerhead nozzles issue (P. Hughes, The Wallace Collection, London, 1996, vol. III, pp. 1219 - 1222, cat. 239 (F138-9)). Those youths are all turned towards each other and are partially draped with floral wreaths. The design of them is attributed to Jean-Louis Prieur (1725 - 1785) because a garniture with a clock that was signed 'Prieur, Sculpteur Paris' and that also included identical candelabra to those at the Wallace Collection was sold from the property of H.M.W. Oppenheim [+], in these Rooms, 10-16 June 1913, lot 68.
The infants of this lot and the pair at the Wallace are very similar to the designs of children by Prieur. There were, however, several designers during that period that drew similar youths, namely Alexandre Thodore Brongniart who placed a pair of three-light candelabra with three children either side of a doorway in one of the rooms he designed for the htel de Monaco in 1774 - 1777.
A pair of candelabra nearly identical to those at the Wallace Collection from the property of Sir Edward Hulton, Cleve Lodge, London, were sold at Sotheby's London, 1 July 1966, lot 110. Another pair with two youths only and entirely gilt, from the property of Jaime Ortiz-Patino were sold at Sotheby's New York, 20 May 1992, lot 35.
The infants of this lot and the pair at the Wallace are very similar to the designs of children by Prieur. There were, however, several designers during that period that drew similar youths, namely Alexandre Thodore Brongniart who placed a pair of three-light candelabra with three children either side of a doorway in one of the rooms he designed for the htel de Monaco in 1774 - 1777.
A pair of candelabra nearly identical to those at the Wallace Collection from the property of Sir Edward Hulton, Cleve Lodge, London, were sold at Sotheby's London, 1 July 1966, lot 110. Another pair with two youths only and entirely gilt, from the property of Jaime Ortiz-Patino were sold at Sotheby's New York, 20 May 1992, lot 35.