Magnificent pair of large gilt and patinated bronze candelabra depicting two vestal virgins (priestesses of ancient Rome dedicated to Vesta, Roman goddess of the home, house, and family) on a red cherry marble base.
Each of them, of a very beautiful chiseling, in bronze with brown patina, holds in her hands an oblong amphora from which emerges a quartet of foliage. 
Evolving into volutes, these are each decorated with a generous acanthus leaf and a vine pampre. Two form arms of light by ending in a coil at the base decorated with gadroons. The binet and the cup are, however, decorated with striations.
The other two foliations rise above the head to unite under a crown of small vine leaves. 
This one houses a vase with handles made of rams heads, from which the third bobèche emerges.
 
The two vestals, whose shape is identical to that of the candelabra in the green room of the Catherine Palace in St Petersburg, also executed by François Rémond, rest on a high square base, recalling the aesthetics of a pedestal. 
In griotte-red marble, each of them has a gilt bronze podium at the top and a counter base decorated with a fluted frieze in gilt bronze.
Some old restorations and slight wear in some places. One of the two restored marble bases.
 
Work of rare quality, in its beautiful original gilding, attributed to the bronzier François Rémond.
 
Directoire-Consulat period, late 18th century - early 19th century.
 
As usual, I take my photos in natural light, so that I can appreciate the objects as close as possible to their reality. 
Artificial lights like "photo studios" completely transform the gilding by magnifying it... creating far too often a great disappointment for the buyer. 


 François Rémond (circa 1747-1812) 
Like Pierre Gouthière, he was one of the most important Parisian craftsmen gilders and foundrymen of the last third of the 18th century. He began his apprenticeship in 1763 and obtained his letters of mastery in 1774. Immediately, his talent allows him to compose a rich clientele among which were notably some personalities of the Court. But above all, François Rémond, through the intermediary of the merchant-mercier Dominique Daguerre, participated in the furnishing of most of the great collectors of the end of the 18th century by supplying clocks cases, andirons, candelabra... always of a very high quality of execution and with particularly refined and innovative compositions which made his reputation. 
 
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