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Lot Essay
This magnificent and monumental pair of candelabra is based on a drawing by the famous marchand-mercier Dominique Daguerre, circa 1785. With their distinctive nymphs supporting cornucopiae, this successful model has been cast by various prominent bronziers of the 18th century including Pierre-François Feuchère and François Rémond. This particular pair can be surely associated to the oeuvre of Pierre-François Feuchère based on various characteristics exclusive to this maker.
PIERRE-FRANÇOIS FEUCHERE
The attribution of this pair to Feuchère is based on the distinctive spirally-fluted branches issuing from berried and scrolling acanthus foliage. Indeed related branches of this type can be found on wall-lights formerly in the collection of Baron Alphonse de Rothschild, Vienna, which are signed 'FEUCHERE’ (illustrated H. Ottomeyer/P.Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, vol. I, pl. 4.16.16). Also, the same branches are featured on a pair of three-branch wall-lights supplied by Feuchère to the cabinet de toilette of Marie-Antoinette at St. Cloud in 1787 (illustrated P. Verlet, Les bronzes Français du XVIIIe siècle, Paris, 1987, p.380-381, figs. 385-387).
Pierre-François Feuchère (1737-1823) was a member of a prominent family of gilders who, along with his father, supplied gilt-bronzes to various members of the Royal family. Feuchère was sworn into the guild of ciseleurs-doreurs in 1767. The Feuchères survived the vicissitudes of the Revolution and continued their successful business through the Empire and Restoration periods, selling stock from their manufactory in 1824 and 1829. Indeed, the latter generation of this family were producing celebrated models during the Restauration period which were already made by their predecessor during the late 18th century.
THE DESIGN
With their striding nymphs supporting spiraling cornucopiae, these candelabras relate closely to a design for a candelabrum of circa 1785, now held in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris (illustrated here). Almost certainly executed in the rue St. Honoré atelier of the marchand-mercier Dominique Daguerre, the highly finished character of this drawing would seem to suggest that these drawings were of existing works of art intended to be sold, as with the Sachsen-Teschen album known in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (59.611.8).
In order to satisfy the high demand for this successful model among his elegant clientele eager for novelty, Daguerre collaborated with several bronziers' workshops to produce this model, each with their own variation.
A first adaptation of the model almost identical to the Daguerre drawing was executed by François Rémond, maître-doreur in 1774 (illustrated here). It was sold by Daguerre in December 1785 to Princess Marie-Leopoldine Kinsky for her hôtel in the rue Saint Dominique (see C. Baulez, 'Le Luminaire de la Princesse Kinsky', L'Objet d'Art, May 1991, p. 89).
A second group, with two female figures holding the cornucopia instead of one figure is attributed to the artist Etienne-Maurice Falconet and is known to have been supplied by Daguerre. A pair of this model is now in the Wallace Collection (Inv. F136-7).
Finally, a third group including the present, is stylistically reminiscent to those executed by François Rémond but has the distinguished branches characteristic of Feuchère’s work. A pair of this group, also attributed to Feuchère and almost identical to the present, was sold at Christie’s New York, 24 May 2000, lot 235 ($193,000).
PIERRE-FRANÇOIS FEUCHERE
The attribution of this pair to Feuchère is based on the distinctive spirally-fluted branches issuing from berried and scrolling acanthus foliage. Indeed related branches of this type can be found on wall-lights formerly in the collection of Baron Alphonse de Rothschild, Vienna, which are signed 'FEUCHERE’ (illustrated H. Ottomeyer/P.Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, vol. I, pl. 4.16.16). Also, the same branches are featured on a pair of three-branch wall-lights supplied by Feuchère to the cabinet de toilette of Marie-Antoinette at St. Cloud in 1787 (illustrated P. Verlet, Les bronzes Français du XVIIIe siècle, Paris, 1987, p.380-381, figs. 385-387).
Pierre-François Feuchère (1737-1823) was a member of a prominent family of gilders who, along with his father, supplied gilt-bronzes to various members of the Royal family. Feuchère was sworn into the guild of ciseleurs-doreurs in 1767. The Feuchères survived the vicissitudes of the Revolution and continued their successful business through the Empire and Restoration periods, selling stock from their manufactory in 1824 and 1829. Indeed, the latter generation of this family were producing celebrated models during the Restauration period which were already made by their predecessor during the late 18th century.
THE DESIGN
With their striding nymphs supporting spiraling cornucopiae, these candelabras relate closely to a design for a candelabrum of circa 1785, now held in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris (illustrated here). Almost certainly executed in the rue St. Honoré atelier of the marchand-mercier Dominique Daguerre, the highly finished character of this drawing would seem to suggest that these drawings were of existing works of art intended to be sold, as with the Sachsen-Teschen album known in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (59.611.8).
In order to satisfy the high demand for this successful model among his elegant clientele eager for novelty, Daguerre collaborated with several bronziers' workshops to produce this model, each with their own variation.
A first adaptation of the model almost identical to the Daguerre drawing was executed by François Rémond, maître-doreur in 1774 (illustrated here). It was sold by Daguerre in December 1785 to Princess Marie-Leopoldine Kinsky for her hôtel in the rue Saint Dominique (see C. Baulez, 'Le Luminaire de la Princesse Kinsky', L'Objet d'Art, May 1991, p. 89).
A second group, with two female figures holding the cornucopia instead of one figure is attributed to the artist Etienne-Maurice Falconet and is known to have been supplied by Daguerre. A pair of this model is now in the Wallace Collection (Inv. F136-7).
Finally, a third group including the present, is stylistically reminiscent to those executed by François Rémond but has the distinguished branches characteristic of Feuchère’s work. A pair of this group, also attributed to Feuchère and almost identical to the present, was sold at Christie’s New York, 24 May 2000, lot 235 ($193,000).