LATE 18TH CENTURY

细节

A PAIR OF RUSSIAN ORMOLU FOUR-LIGHT CANDELABRA
Late 18th Century
Each with hexagonal fluted spreading stem with acanthus base, headed by Cerberus mask and a fluted nozzle and hexagonal foliate-edged drip pan, flanked by scrolling foliate-wrapped branches with conforming nozzles and drip pans, the base with flexed paw feet and a conforming polygonal base.
23 in. (58.5 cm.) high (2)

注意事项

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium

拍品专文

An identical example to these beautifully-chased candelabra is illustrated in I. Sychev, The Russian Chandeliers, Moscow, 2003, p. 77, fig. 368, where they are described as work from St. Petersburg. However, the design of these candelabra is highly original and symbolic with Cerberus, guardian of the underworld placed beneath the candles, whose light represents the light of the earth. This unexpected theme could suggest a different origin as this design seems unique in ormolu from St. Petersburg. Sychev mentiones that they are similar to Viennese work and indeed the fluted octagonal stems and drip-pans are virtually identical to those on examples in the MAK in Vienna.