Rare pair of large candelabra in gilded and chased bronze and bronze with brown patina. They represent superb winged Victories, dressed in diaphanous dresses, borrowing the canephora posture to support a bouquet of five arms of light, including a central one simulating a cloud of smoke. Winding arms of light terminated by eagle heads (strong emblem of the Empire) on which each of the binets rests.
The Victories stand, placing one foot on a sphere decorated with a griffin. Sphere placed in the cushioning of a large octagonal base decorated, on each of its facets, with a vestal, an eagle diamond and torches. An identical model is present in the former Palais des Tuileries. Empire period around 1810
Bibliography:
Marie-France Dupuy-Baylet: L'Heure, Le Feu, La Lumière, the bronzes of the Mobilier National 1800-1870, 2010, pp. 166-167 Thomire's candelabras are inspired by drawings by Charles Percier (1764-1838) and Pierre François Léonard Fontaine (1762-1853), architects of Napoleon I, themselves inspired by ancient statues. Pierre-Philippe Thomire (1757-1843) was received as master founder on May 18, 1772, he is the most important Parisian bronzier of the last quarter of the 18th century and the first decades of the following century. In his early days, he worked for Pierre Gouthière, the king's chaser-founder, then began working in the mid-1770s with Louis Prieur. He then became one of the official bronziers of the royal manufactory of Sèvres, succeeding Jean-Claude Thomas Duplessis, working on the bronze decoration of most of the great creations of the time. After the Revolution, he bought the business of Martin-Eloi Lignereux and became the largest supplier of furnishing bronzes for castles and imperial palaces.Thomire was entrusted in 1785 with the realization of a candelabra commemorating the commitment of France in the United States War of Independence. Offered to the king, it was placed in his interior cabinet at Versailles, where it is still kept. He made the caryatids and gilded bronze ornaments for the Schwerdfeger jewelry-holder, offered by the city of Paris to Queen Marie-Antoinette in 1787. He was also the author of the bronzes for the countess of Provence's jewelry-holder, preserved today at Windsor Castle. At the same time, he worked for a wealthy private French and foreign clientele, among which were some of Napoleon's marshals. Finally, he retired from business in the mid-1820s and died in 1843.
I offer my objects in a low expert estimate. Thus, their acquisition gives you the assurance of a safe investment.
THOMIRE: Pair Of Bronze Candelabra, Empire
DETAILS DE L'ARTICLE
Height: 75cm
DELIVERY POLICY
I manage delivery for you in France and internationally: contact me to establish one or more transport quotes.
I make sure that particular care is taken for packaging and protection adapted to your purchases.