Paris, Early XIX Century

Group of four Empire candlesticks in gilded bronze and burnished bronze, Paris, early 19th century. Vase-shaped holder with pods in the lower section, faceted quiver shaft ending with a trio of claw feet, circular support base. The gilded bronze parts are finely chiseled, decorated with various types of frets including foliaceous frets. The group of candlesticks described here is a close variant of a model created by André Antoine Ravrio (1759-1814) around 1808 and supplied in several examples for the imperial furnishings of the Château de Fontainebleau. Ravrio was one of the most talented French bronze workers of the early 19th century, together with Claude Galle and Thomire, being supplier to Emperor Napoleon. His adopted son, Louis-Stanislas Lenoir-Ravrio (1783-1846), who like his father was one of the main bronzesmiths of his time, also worked in André's workshop. The two worked together from 1811, the year in which Louis officially became a collaborator, until 1814, the year of his father's death, continuing the activity until 1840.