Although their inspiration ultimately lies with the Great Sphynx at Giza, these chenets are more directly related to the sphinxes of the Pharaohs Neferities I and Akeris, which were displayed in Rome at the Capitol in 1513, before their removal to the Villa Borghese and, ultimately, to the Louvre with Napoleon's spoils in 1807. With their 'Nemes' head-dress and unusual incline of the head, they relate to two designs attributed to the sculptor Nicolas Coustou (1658-1733), reputedly for lead sphinxes which stood on the terrace of the Royal Pavilion at Marly, now in the Cabinet of Drawings at the Stockholm Museum. It is, therefore, of interest to note that Coustou, who moved to Paris to live with his uncle Coysevox in 1676, was a pensionnaire of King Louis XIV in Rome between 1683 and 1686

These chenets may be identifiable with those in the collection of Mme. J, sold in Paris, 20-21 March 1914:-

46 - Deux chenets en bronze doré, décorés chacun d'un sphinx et d'un mascaron souffleur, Epoque Régence (7,400 francs)

A pair of Louis XIV chenets with identical sphinxes, although with different bases, was sold from the collection of Jacques Garcia, Sotheby's New York, 27 October 1990, lot 29