Beschreibung:

'THE BARON LIONEL DE ROTHSCHILD CANDELABRA' A PAIR OF FRENCH LOUIS XVI ORMOLU AND PATINATED BRONZE FIGURAL CANDELABRA AFTER THE MODEL BY PHILLIPPE CAFFIERI, LATE 18TH CENTURY each modelled with a cherub seated on a rock, one holding his hands aloft, the other blowing a shell, issuing three acanthus wrapped branches with fluted vase shaped nozzles decorated with stiff leaves, the stepped base with fluted, guilloche and leaf decoration, later drilled and fitted for electricity, with faux candles and shades (8) 45.8cm high (excluding fittings) Provenance Baron Lionel de Rothschild (1808-1879) at 148 Piccadilly, London Alfred de Rothschild (1842-1918) the Central Hall / Salon, Halton House, Buckinghamshire Lionel de Rothschild (1882-1942) Edmund de Rothschild (1916-2009) The Trustees of Exbury House Literature Rothschild Archive, London, Manuscript 000/176/11, 'The Division of the property of the late Baron Lionel de Rothschild between Sir Nathaniel de Rothschild, Leopold de Rothschild, Esq., and Alfred de Rothschild, Esq., 1881'. Listed as 'A pair of fine small Louis XVI bronze three light candelabra' and recorded as going to Alfred. Rothschild Archive, London, Manuscript: 000/174/C/3, Christie, Manson & Woods Probate Valuation of 'The Estate of Alfred C. de Rothschild, Esq. C.V.O. Deceased, Halton House Tring'. 1918. Listed as 'A pair of Louis XVI, candelabra, with bronze figures of boys playing conch shells and supporting ormolu branches, for three lights each. ' Charles Davis ' A Description of the Works of Art forming the collection of Alfred de Rothschild', 1884, p. 228, no. 244, listed as 'A pair of three-light candelabra, of the period of Louis XVI, each is formed by a bronze figure of a kneeling boy blowing a trumpet and supporting the branches, which are chased metal, and designed as foliated scrolls. The stands are square, and each has a hollow border enriched with a bead moulding'. Catalogue Note Although the design of candelabra has traditionally been attributed to Philippe Caffieri (1714-1774) with the rights to their production held by Simon-Phillippe Poirier and his business partner Dominique Daguerre the putti themselves have a longer history with an attribution to Alessandro Algardi (1595-1654) and his circle, a pair of which are now held in the Wallace Collection having been acquired by the 4th Marquess of Hertford. This attribution by the Wallace Collection is further enhanced by Jennifer Montague in her publications on Algardi (1985) and Bronzes in the Wallace Collection (2002). Poirier delivered a pair of candelabra incorporating porcelain figures among three gilt bronze branches, to Madame du Barry in 1770. It was soon after this date that the design appears to have gained popularity amongst the English Gentry with examples appearing in inventories of country house collections from the early 19th century. In recent years, closely related examples have appeared at auction, see Christie's Lord St Helens and Sir William Fitzherbert, 22nd January 2009, lot 541 and Christie's, The Gothick Pavilion, Byron to Beaton, 9th December 2010, lot 111. Read more »