LATE 18TH CENTURY

A mantel clock with identical herm-caryatid supports is illustrated in Tardy, La Pendule Française, Paris, 1969, vol. II, p.269, stylistically, both the candlesticks and mantel clock would appear to reveal a debt to the designs of Pierre Gouthière (d. 1813/14), the celebrated fondeur-ciseleur, whose console tables in the Wallace Collection have related herm-supports (see F.J.B. Watson, Wallace Collection Catalogue, London, 1956, F317).

A near identical pair of candlesticks sold Christie's London, 9 June 1994, lot 12 (£10,350 inc.).