The design for these candlesticks is attributed to Corneille van Cleve (d. 1732) by F. Souchel, French Sculptors, the Reign of Louis XIV, London, 1987, vol. III, p. 398, fig. 73, on the basis of 18th century sale catalogue entires, the earliest of which being the Pontchartrain sale of December 1747...'Two large candlesticks ... they were exec. after designs by Mr. van Clève'. A goldsmith by training, van Cleve was appointed Sculptor to Louis XIV from 1681 to 1720, and was celebrated for his figurative objets. It is highly possible that these candlesticks were cast by van Clèves brother-in-law, Nicolas de Launay, who executed several of van Cleve's designs and was himself appointed Directeur de la Monnaie des Médailles du Roi. A further pair was sold in the Randon de Boisset sale, Paris, 27 Feb. - 25 March 1777, no. 266, while the Wallace Collection has two female figures, probably each from a different pair (see: F. J. B. Watson, Wallace Collection, Furniture, London, 1956, F.30/31