paire de flambeaux royaux en argent par Balthasar Friedrich Behrens, Hanovre, après 1744

gravés aux armes du roi George II d'Angleterre, Electeur de Hanovre, et numérotés XII et XXIV, N° 57 et N° 66, bobèches manquantes
engraved with the arms of King George II of England and Elector of Hanover, numbered XII and XXIV and engraved Nõ 57 and Nõ 66, lacking nozzles

Associated Literature:
Ellenor M. Alcorn, `A Chandelier for the King', The Burlington Magazine, Vol. 139, not 1126 (Jan 1997) pp. 40-43

Ces chandeliers font partie d'une série de 72 réalisés pour la cour de Hanovre, dont les 24 premiers furent livrés le 16 septembre 1744. Certains registres manquants, les dates de commande et de livraison des 48 autres restent inconnues, mais peuvent être envisagées avant 1760, date de l'inventaire complet, et probablement vers 1750 comme l'indique la lettre-date E.
Le 14 janvier 1744, l'orfèvre de la cour Behrens reçut une grande quantité de vieil argent afin de réaliser les flambeaux et quatre chandeliers. Ces chandeliers complétaient une série de 12 réalisée à Hanovre par Behrens d'après les dessins de l'architecte royal anglais William Kent. Les registres de l'époque par ailleurs ne parlent pas de Manière anglaise mais de Nouvelle manière anglaise pour qualifier ces flambeaux et chandeliers, significative de la modernité et la réputation de William Kent.

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These candlesticks are part of a series of 72 ordered over a period. Hanover court goldsmith Behrens delivered the first 24 from the series on 16^th September of 1744,  having received the old silver from which they were to be made on 14th January. The Hanover court inventory was updated in 1747 to reflect additions of silver made by George II and the first 24 candlesticks from the ultimate series of 72 are recorded here:

KÖNIGL. UND CHURFÜRSTL. HOFF-SILBER-INVENTARIUM

HANNOVER ANNO 1747 Vollständiges Hoff-Silber-Inventarium enthaltend Seiner Königl. Majestaet unsers Allergnädigsten Herrn sämtliches Gold- und Silber-Gerähte so bey Königl. und Churfürstl. Silber-Cammer zu Hannover vorhanden.
Aus dem Inventario de Anno 1728, dem Aditamento de Anno 1730 und Inventario de Anno 1739.
Zusammengetragen und mit den Vermehr- und Veränderungen geschloßen
[...]bi Johannis 1747 durch den Ober-Hoff-Commissarium Friderich August Bartels.
Hannover.
(Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv – Hauptstaatsarchiv Hannover (NLA-HStAH), Dep. 103, XXI, Nr. 682)

[Pag. 79] Hoff-Silber-Inventarii Pars II

Sectio 10   Leuchter                                                                  Gewichte
Stücke                                                                                      mk Lt

Cammer-Leuchter
          von 15-löthigem Gehalt
                unverguldet

36. Drey Dosin Cammer-Leuchter, viereckigter Facon                 126 2
      Summa Cammer-Leuchter  15löthig per se

            Von 12löthigem Gehalt
                unverguldet .
60. 5 Dosin Neue Cammer-Leuchter Englischer Facon                 126  8 ¼   
24. 2 Dosin Cammer-Leuchter, Neuer Englischer Facon
         so Anno 1744 verfertiget                                                 91 5 ¾
12. 1 Dosin Cammer-Leuchter von No 1 bis 12 Osnabrückisch   23 8            
12. 1 Dosin Cammer-Leuchter etwas kleiner
12. 1 Dosin Cammer-Leuchter noch kleiner,                    }           31 14 ½    
         Osnabrückisch von No 1 bis 24

156 Summa Cammer Leuchter 12 Lohtig  [...?]73 mk 4 ½ Lt.
Summa Cammer Leuchter                                              Latus    399 6 ½  

It is not known exactly when the remaining 48 candlesticks, which include the pair now offered were ordered and delivered because the records for the relevant period  were not available at the time of cataloguing. It must have been before 1760 when the court inventory resumes and the full 72 are listed weighing in all with their detachable nozzles, 294 Mark 15 3/8 Lot. It was probably around 1750 as indicated by the G date letter recorded by Scheffler for this date (the earlier candlesticks have E date letter)

Minutes dated January 14^th 1744 attached to the 1747 update record how by this day the decision had already been made to have the candlesticks made, and court goldsmith Behrens was given 203 M 9 3/16 Lt of old silver with which to make them . At the same time it was resolved to make 4 Girandolen. These girandoles (candelabra) were the final four from a series of 12 begun in 1738.

They are known to be after a design by the royal architect William Kent, and were made by Behrens after a sketch sent to Hanover from St James's by the privy councillor Baron von Hattorf . Given the similarity of their respective descriptions in the minutes of 14^th January 1744 (see below), and the distinction between Englischer Facon and Neuer Englischer Facon (see above), there is a possibility that the candlesticks like the girandoles are also after a William Kent design.

Minutes of 14^th January 1744

4 Girandolen der Neuen Englischen Façon                  
24 Taffel-Leuchter, selbiger Façon

(Four candelabra in the new English style. 24 table candlesticks, same style)

Previously it has been said that the 72 candlesticks were made for Herrenhausen (Christies London, 5 June 2008, lot 15 where a list of previous sales of this model can be found). This was a residence used by the court during George II's visits to Hanover which occurred during the summer months.  There doesn't seem to be published evidence to confirm that the candlesticks were for Herrenhausen alone. The Leineschloss (the primary residence in Hanover of the Brunswick Lüneburg Dukes since 1640) was `in active use for government business, state visits and entertainments'. It had been largely burned in a fire of 1741 but by 1743 had been sufficiently restored to house the official celebrations to mark the marriage by proxy of George II's daughter Louise to The Crown prince of Denmark. The Kent chandeliers are recorded there and it is probable that the candlesticks,  whose ordering coincides approximately with the palace's restoration, were used at the Leineschloss as well as Herrenhausen. The candlesticks were taken to Austria by the royal family following Hanover's defeat by Prussia in 1866 and sold in Vienna probably between 1923 and 1925