Lot Essay
With their antique oil lamp finials, owl headed-branches and distinctive patinated bronze flaming torches, the present candelabra are closely related to the work of the celebrated St. Petersburg-based bronzier Ivan Bauman, whose workshop was active between 1801 and 1840. Celebrated bronziers such as Bauman or Andreï Schreiber seem to have indeed executed works of art of a rather classical style, as did their French counterparts, such as patinated bronze chandeliers à l'antique, modelled as large classical urns surmounted by oil lamp finials, as are also featured on the present candelabra. A chandelier attributed to Bauman featuring such distinctive flaming torch finials, as on the present lot, was sold Christie's, Paris, 4-5 May 2011, lot 523 (EUR34,600 including premium).