Lot Essay
These Bacchic candelabra formed part of the celebrated collection of French furniture and objets d'art assembled by Margaret, Baroness Keith and Nairne and her husband Auguste-Charles-Joseph, comte de Flahaut de la Billarderie, the natural son of Talleyrand and nephew of comte d'Angivilliers, the directeur-général des bâtiments du Roi. Although they are known to have bought a 'table in marqueterie' in Paris as early as 1823, it was not until 1827 that the Flahaut's moved to Paris, and it was with the acquisition of the hôtel de Massa in 1830 that the collection expanded with renewed vigour. Between 1855-63, the Flahaut's leased Coventry House, Piccadilly and these candelabra are probably those recorded in the 'Small Front Drawing Room' in the inventory of 1863, drawn up by Madame de Flahaut herself. They were described as ' 2 candelabres for 3 lights- marble, mounted in or mat and branches with flowers- very fine model'.
The exceptionally richly coloured and figured green serpentine is most probably Gabbro dioritico or granito verde e erbetta, from the Egyptian desert (R. Gnoli, Marmora Romana, 2nd ed., Rome, 1988, fig.117).
The exceptionally richly coloured and figured green serpentine is most probably Gabbro dioritico or granito verde e erbetta, from the Egyptian desert (R. Gnoli, Marmora Romana, 2nd ed., Rome, 1988, fig.117).