POSSIBLY 18TH CENTURY

The sphinx figures of these chenets are inspired by the similar figures with espagnolette head-dress in the grounds of Marly. A model of these chenets with slightly differing back support and with the coat-of-arms of the Bavarian Court is in the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, Munich (H. Ottomeyer, P. Pröschel, et al., Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, p. 71, fig. 1.10.10), while another pair of virtually identical form to the offered lot, originally from René Weiller, Paris, was sold anonymously, Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, 26 March 1966, lot 50.