A beautiful French early 19th century Empire pair of ormolu and patinated bronze candlesticks with female figure decoration in the manner of Claude Galle:
Each candlestick with a patinated bronze female caryatid wearing a classical tunic, representing a Roman vestal standing on a round red marble (Rouge Griotte) gilt-bronze mounted socle; the vestals wearing small tasseled cushions on the heads, from which issue the nozzles with feather-shaped drip pans. The figures are presented in a strongly frontal manner and show a beautifully aged dark brownish patina.
This pair of candlesticks is of finely chased quality apparent in the finely detailed tassels, anthemion friezes and skillful draperies. Comparable to the work and in the manner of Claude Galle (1759-1815). Claude Galle was one of the foremost bronziers of the late Louis XVI and Empire periods who having been received as a maître in 1786, gained many commissions from the Garde-Meuble de la Couronne and then enjoyed significant patronage under Emperor Napoleon. He is known to have collaborated with Pierre-Philippe Thomire (1751-1843) and was responsible for the majority of bronzes d’ameublement supplied during the Empire to Château de Fontainebleau and other palaces. The world’s finest collections exhibiting his work, i.e. Musée National de Château de Malmaison, the Musée Marmottan in Paris, the Museo de Reloges at Jerez de la Frontera, the Residenz Munich and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Condition: very good, min. wear consistent with age and use, min. fading – detailed condition report on request
