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Lot Essay
Although almost certainly of Russian manufacture, these candelabra relate closely to a pair executed by Pierre-Philippe Thomire (1751-1843) circa 1805 (ill. in H. Ottomeyer, P. Pröschel et al., Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, vol. I., p.336, fig. 5.3.3) and deriving from a design dated circa 1800 by Charles Percier for the supports of a centre table now in the Musée du Louvre (ill. Ibid, p. 336, fig. 5.3.4).
Related examples attributed to the bronzier-ciseleur include a pair probably supplied to Czar Paul I for St. Michael Castle in St.Petersburg by the marchand-mercier Jérome Culot with whom Thomire is recorded to have worked extensively, in the Nouveau Cabinet de Travail at Pavlovsk, St. Petersburg (Pavlovsk, Le Palais et le Parc, 1976, figs 176, 178 and 180).
Amongst the related examples attributed to Thomire sold at auction, a pair formerly in the Collection of M. Maxime Sciolette, former French ambassador to Brazil, was sold at Christie's, Paris, 23 June 2005, lot 367, whilst an example from the collection of M. Hubert de Givenchy, was sold at Christie's, Monaco, 4 December 1993, lot 39 (FF1,332,000 with premium).
A further pair was supplied by the renowned bronzier to the Mobilier Impérial: formerly in the château de Saint-Cloud, and it is now in the Grande Chancellerie de la Légion d'Honneur, Hôtel de Salm, Paris (ill. in J.M. Humbert, et.al., Egyptomania, 1994, p.286, no. 167).
A virtually identical pair of candelabra - albeit of smaller scale - was sold at Christie's, London, 9 July 2009, lot 43
Related examples attributed to the bronzier-ciseleur include a pair probably supplied to Czar Paul I for St. Michael Castle in St.Petersburg by the marchand-mercier Jérome Culot with whom Thomire is recorded to have worked extensively, in the Nouveau Cabinet de Travail at Pavlovsk, St. Petersburg (Pavlovsk, Le Palais et le Parc, 1976, figs 176, 178 and 180).
Amongst the related examples attributed to Thomire sold at auction, a pair formerly in the Collection of M. Maxime Sciolette, former French ambassador to Brazil, was sold at Christie's, Paris, 23 June 2005, lot 367, whilst an example from the collection of M. Hubert de Givenchy, was sold at Christie's, Monaco, 4 December 1993, lot 39 (FF1,332,000 with premium).
A further pair was supplied by the renowned bronzier to the Mobilier Impérial: formerly in the château de Saint-Cloud, and it is now in the Grande Chancellerie de la Légion d'Honneur, Hôtel de Salm, Paris (ill. in J.M. Humbert, et.al., Egyptomania, 1994, p.286, no. 167).
A virtually identical pair of candelabra - albeit of smaller scale - was sold at Christie's, London, 9 July 2009, lot 43