A PAIR OF FINE LOUIS XVI SILVER FOUR-LIGHT CANDELABRA

Details

A PAIR OF FINE LOUIS XVI SILVER FOUR-LIGHT CANDELABRA
MAKER'S MARK OF HENRI AUGUSTE, PARIS, 1787

On circular spreading bases chased with a band of water leaves rising to tapering stems with stiff leaf, beaded and honeysuckle bands, each with three palmette scroll, beaded and snake entwined branches supporting shallow dentilated sockets with removeable nozzles, the vase shaped central standard chased with a band of ovolo and with everted lobed socket with similar nozzle, engraved under the bases and on each component with a coat-of-arms surmounted by a coronet, marked under bases, on central standards and nozzles; struck with the charge and export discharge of Jean-Francois Kalandrin--23 3/4in. (60.3cm.) high
(302oz., 9400gr.) (2)

Provenance

Ader Picard Tajan, Palais Galliera, Paris, November, 1975, lot 63.

Lot Essay

The arms are those of the Duke of Cadaval.

A set of twelve identical candelabra by Auguste of the same date is known, engraved with the arms of Frederick Augustus, Duke of York, the second son of George III of England. Two from this set are in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (Rogers Fund, 1921). Four others of slightly more elaborate form, engraved with the arms of George, Prince of Wales, are in the Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco (Gift of Alma de Bretteville Spreckels); a pair of gilt examples of the same year, also engraved with English arms, was sold in these Rooms, April 18, 1991, lot 80 (see the following lot). A closely related design, attributed to the workshop of Henri Auguste, is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Caption:

Henri Auguste Workshop, after a design by Jean-Guillaume Moitte (1746-1810): Candelabrum with alternative designs for branches. Pen, ink and gray wash. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Rogers Fund and the Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1978 (1978.521.4)