PAIR OF EARLY LOUIS XV CANDELABRES, circa 1745 after Juste Aurèle Meissonnier (circa 1693-1750)
In chased and gilded bronze, with three lights coming from volutes of foliage, the shaft with a rocaille motif, resting on a contoured base.
H. : 30 cm. (11 ¾ in.)
Provenance:
Sale Sotheby's Monaco, May 27, 1980, lot 1240.
Alexander Collection, Christie's New York Sale, April 30, 1999, lot 82.
Belgian private collection.
Comparative bibliography:
J. Bourne, V. Brett, "L'art du Luminaire", Flammarion, Paris, p. 63, fig. 190.
A pair of Louis XV ormolu three-light candelabra, circa 1745, after Juste Aurèle Meissonnier (circa 1693-1750)
The movement and liveliness of this model make it the perfect testimony of the Rocaille current of which Juste-Aurèle Meissonnier is one of the most famous representatives. Born in Turin around 1693, he succeeded Jean II Bérain in 1725 as architect-designer of the King's Chamber and Cabinet, working as a goldsmith, architect and ornamentalist. A collection of his engravings published by Gabriel Huquier between 1742 and 1750 contains a model of a candelabrum (Fig. 1) in the section "Dousieme livre des Œuvres de J. A. Messonnier Livre de Chandeliers de Sculpture en Argent".
A comparable pair of candelabra was sold in Monaco, Mes Ader-Picard-Tajan, May 27, 1984, lot 91.