A tapering, partially patinated pearl frieze bronze stem on an ovoid gilt bronze guilloche socle standing on a circular plinth decorated with foliage and neoclassical patterns. The nozzle in shape of a Corinthian capital holding a removable shorter baluster-shaped gilt bronze stem from which issue two s-shaped light arms adorned with foliage carrying globular bobeches with fine guilloche decoration. The bobeches with removable drip pans. By removing the upper stem the pair of candelabra can also be used as one-light candleholders (see pictures).
Both in its excellent quality and in its formal features the pair of candelabra very much resembles the works of P.P. Thomire: Pierre-Philippe Thomire (1751–1843) was the most famous bronzier of the French Empire period. He had received his training in the workshop of the famous Louis XVI bronzier and designer Pierre Gouthière and after that established his own workshop in 1776. His fashionable neoclassical and Empire style furnishing bronzes (“bronzes d’ameublement”) established the highest standard in refined finish in the craft that the French called that of the fondeur-ciseleur, “founder-finisher”. During his career he worked for an illustrious clientele including Napoleon I for whom he furnished a lot of his Imperial residences and who made him “Le Ciseleur de l’Empereur”. At the height of his business he employed up to seven hundred workers. Thomire retired from his firm in 1823, but nevertheless Thomire Duterme et Cie. retained the highest clientele during the Restauration period, among them Monsieur, the king’s brother, the Duc de Berry.
Condition: very good, min. wear consistent with age and use, minor fading, 1 bobeche with minor crack at the rim (see picture) – detailed condition report on request
