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Lot Essay
The Napoleon III ormolu mounts on this pair of Chinese 19th century porcelain candelabra are related to Louis XV Rococo examples attributed to the bronzier, Jean-Claude Duplessis (d. 1773). Similar base mounts found on a pair of Louis XV porcelain vases possibly by the maître were formerly in the Champalimaud Collection (sold Christie’s, London, 6-7 July 2005, lot 66).
The gilt-bronzes of these candelabra are stamped 'JB’, the mark of an unknown bronzier active in the 2nd half of the 19th century; the high quality of the casting and chasing suggesting a skilled craftsman. Intriguingly, the same stamp appears on a number of ormolu pieces in 'tous les Louis’ styles, including a pair of ormolu Louis XVI-style, four-branch wall appliques (sold Christie’s, London, 1 May 2003, lot 202), a pair of Louis XVI-style ormolu-mounted porphyry cassolettes (sold Christie’s, New York, 9 June 2009, lot 247) and a pair of Régence-style ormolu chenets (sold Sotheby’s, New York, 8 May 2009, lot 18). From late 1985 to circa 1998, the present pair of vases was on temporary loan from the present vendor to the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge at their behest as confirmed by a letter from the Keeper of Applied Arts, Robin Crighton, dated 15 October 1985.
The gilt-bronzes of these candelabra are stamped 'JB’, the mark of an unknown bronzier active in the 2nd half of the 19th century; the high quality of the casting and chasing suggesting a skilled craftsman. Intriguingly, the same stamp appears on a number of ormolu pieces in 'tous les Louis’ styles, including a pair of ormolu Louis XVI-style, four-branch wall appliques (sold Christie’s, London, 1 May 2003, lot 202), a pair of Louis XVI-style ormolu-mounted porphyry cassolettes (sold Christie’s, New York, 9 June 2009, lot 247) and a pair of Régence-style ormolu chenets (sold Sotheby’s, New York, 8 May 2009, lot 18). From late 1985 to circa 1998, the present pair of vases was on temporary loan from the present vendor to the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge at their behest as confirmed by a letter from the Keeper of Applied Arts, Robin Crighton, dated 15 October 1985.