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Pair 18th Century French Ormolu Four-Light Candelabra, by André-Charles Boulle

$88,500per set
£67,201.32per set
€80,604.52per set
CA$126,746.75per set
A$130,832.37per set
CHF 73,743.46per set
MX$1,692,668.21per set
NOK 841,334.45per set
SEK 887,570.84per set
DKK 602,467.67per set

About the Item

A Pair of 18th Century French Ormolu Four-Light Candelabra, by André-Charles Boulle Each candelabrum is structured around a baluster stem rising from a tripartite base. The stem is mounted with a central medallion depicting a classical male profile in relief, framed within a scrolled cartouche enriched with acanthus detailing. Above, the stem issues a circular platform from which emerge three scrolling branches terminating in rams’ heads, each supporting a drip pan and candle nozzle. The central stem continues upward to a fourth nozzle of vase form, completing the four-light arrangement. The branches are ornamented with foliate castings, their curves echoing the symmetry of the composition. The tripartite base is supported by three sphinx figures seated at the corners, their bodies extending outward to form the legs of the structure. Each sphinx is modelled with winged shoulders and finely detailed facial features, continuing into paw-like supports. Between the sphinxes are applied ornamental masks, including a grotesque sun-faced mask with radiating headdress and scrolling lambrequins, further enriched with foliate ornament. The bases rest on small toupie feet, providing stability to the heavy gilt bronze construction. This combination of mythological creatures, animal heads, and classical portraiture reflects the complex iconography employed in such monumental decorative bronzes. The design of these candelabra is firmly associated with André-Charles Boulle, the celebrated bronzier to Louis XIV. Jean Nérée Ronfort has documented this model, often referred to as girandoles à sphinx et têtes de béliers, tracing its conception to Boulle’s workshop and its relation to designs by Jean Bérain. Comparable examples were executed with both four and five candle branches, suggesting variations of the same prototype. Contemporary records indicate that such candelabra were originally produced in sets, often of four or six, to be placed on giltwood pedestals and arranged in galleries or salons. Their earliest prototypes likely date to the beginning of Louis XIV’s reign, with silver versions supplied to the Garde-Meuble de la Couronne as early as 1669. Surviving documentation throughout the 18th century records similar pieces in prominent collections. In 1724, a pair described as “girandoles à sphinx” was listed in the estate of the merchant Hébert’s wife. In 1736, the Duc d’Antin’s inventory included two examples with four branches, and further descriptions appear in the residences of notable financiers such as Bouret de Villaumont and Marin de la Haye. By 1776, candelabra explicitly attributed to Boulle were recorded in the collection of Blondel de Gagny, and others appear in late 18th-century sales catalogues, confirming their continued desirability. Today, examples of this model are preserved in several important collections. Pairs are found at Warwick Castle, Waddesdon Manor, and formerly in the collections of the Ducs d’Arenberg and Edmond J. Safra, with additional examples sold through Christie’s and Sotheby’s in the 20th and 21st centuries. Their consistent appearance in inventories and sales over more than a century underscores the significance of this design within French decorative arts. This pair, with its sphinx bases, rams’ head candle arms, and portrait-mounted stem, conforms to the established Boulle model and exemplifies the ornamental richness of French ormolu of the period.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 19.25 in (48.9 cm)Width: 13 in (33.02 cm)Depth: 11.5 in (29.21 cm)
  • Sold As:
    Set of 2
  • Style:
    Louis XIV (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
    1730-1739
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1730
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    New York, NY
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU919546501202

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