Lot Essay
The design of the draped nymphs refers to Gabriel de Saint-Aubin's drawing of 1761 (see H.Ottomeyer, P. Pröschel et al., Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, vol.I, p.254, fig.4.7.1). In the same year Etienne-Maurice Falconet, Director of the Sculpture studio at Sèvres (1759-1766), exhibited at the Salon du Louvre a pair of plaster models with two such nymph figures each supporting candelabra. Examples following Falconet's design include a three-branch lily candelabra in the Royal Castle in Warsaw (SZM 407/3-4) (ibid. p.254, fig.4.7.3), while a closely related pair, like the present example with just one nymph each, was sold from the celebrated collection of Baron Guy de Rothschild, Sotheby's, Monaco, 26 June 1975, lot 242.