The design of the draped nymphs on our candelabra refer to a design of 1761 by Gabriel de Saint-Aubin (see H.Ottomeyer, P.Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, vol.I, p.254, fig4.7.1). The design depicts two pairs of plaster models of figures supporting candelabra which were exhibited at the Salon du Louvre in 1761 by Etienne-Maurice Falconet (1716-1791), Director of the Sculpture studio at Sèvres (1759-1766). He refers to them as Deux Grouppes de femmes en platre. Ce sont des Chandeliers pour être exécutés en argent. Ils ont deux pieds six pouces de haut chacun. They were in fact originally intended to be cast by the orfèvre François-Thomas Germain.
A number of similar examples follow Falconet's design, such as the three-light lilly candelabra supported by draped nymphs which is conserved in the Royal Castle in Warsaw (SZM 407/3-4) (ibid. p.254, fig.4.7.3).
An identical pair to the present examples was sold anonymously, in Paris, Galerie Charpentier, 9-10 March 1956, lot 136.
Tyninghame
The name of the house derives from its location, meaning 'the village of the dwellers by the Tyne'. The story of Tyninghame goes back to the 7th Century. Acquired in 1628 by Thomas, 1st Earl of Haddington, it was for Centuries the seat of the Earls of Haddington. It was largely rebuilt during the 18th Century and again in 1829.