CIRCA 1800

The present candelabra are virtually identical to a pair sold in the Soviet sales of Imperial Russian furniture and works of art at Rudolph Lepke, 'Kunstwerke aus den beständen Leningrader Museen und Schlösser Eremitage, Palais Michailoff, Gatschina U.A.', Berlin, 6 November 1928, lots 131-2 (ill. in R. Lepke's Kunst-Auctions-Haus Berlin, W.35, Katalog 2000, p.49, no.131-32 and Tafel 59 and reproduced here). A further closely related candelabrum is in the Ministère de la Guerre, Paris and illustrated in E. Dumonthier, Les Bronzes du Mobilier National: Bronzes d'Eclairage et de Chauffage, Paris, 1911, pl.29, fig. 4, while other related examples sold at auction include a pair - albeit with a simpler white marble base - sold Tajan, Paris, 5 April 2001, lot 233.