The personification of Victory (Nike in Greek) as a winged female figure was known to the ancient Greeks and Romans. The Victory figures of these candelabra are derived from a design by Charles Percier of 1802 for the furnishing of the boudoir of Josphine Bonaparte at the Chteau de St. Cloud (H. Ottomeyer, P. Prschel, et.al., Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, vol. I, p. 328, ill. 5.2.1). A similar pair of candelabra by Pierre-Philippe Thomire, of circa 1810, is discussed in Ottomeyer, op.cit., p. 329, ill. 5.2.4, while a pair of candelabra at Chteau de Fontainebleau, which are of closely related form, was acquired in 1804 for the salon de l'Impratrice (J. P. Samoyault, Pendules et bronzes d'ameublement entrs sous le Premier Empire, Paris, 1989, p. 156. no. 133).

A related pair of candelabra sold from Sheringham Hall, Norfolk, Christie's house sale, 22-23 October 1986, lot 149; while another pair stamped Chibout was sold anonymously at Sotheby's London, 25 November 1988, lot 148 ( 33.000).