Here is a superb pair of matt and shiny gilt bronze candlesticks / candlesticks from the Empire period, made up of different elements with very fine carving. An identical pair is kept at the Chuvalov Palace in Saint Petersburg where the 1831 inventory of the latter notes: "pair of torches, torso frieze barrel with griffins, lyres, foliage and palmettes on a round base with rosette of palmettes". Bequest of General Pavel Andreïevich Chouvalov (1776-1823, general of the Russian imperial army during the Napoleonic wars), origin: France 1808, Galle rue Vivienne n ° 9 in Paris. Like Pierre Philippe Thomire, Claude Galle recorded numerous orders for the Russian market and its high dignitaries. He perfectly understood the Soviets' taste for carvings and details in abundance and produced models for their attention. The design and precision of the carving of this model are the best proof of this. Take for example the griffins, they are no more than 8mm each and yet are of surgical precision. This rare model of torches / candlesticks still has its beautiful original gilding.