Paire de flambeaux de table à base octogonale en vermeil, poinçon de maître ID, Dresde, vers 1740

gravés de numéros et poids: 23: 1M 15L 2Q et 24: 2M..........2Q

Ulli Arnold, Dresden Hofsilber des 18. Jahrhunderts, Hrsg. Kulturstiftung der Länder u. Staatl. Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Grünes Gewölbe, Berlin/Dresden 1994

Light wear throughout, slighly more on the sconces/tops, the colour of gilding is superb, gilded underneath. A few nicks and scratches, overall condition is good. Marks are good. Maker's mark only struck twice. Les bordures des pieds inscrits de leur poinçon de maître marqué seulement deux fois
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Ces flambeaux firent certainement partie de l'orfèvrerie de l'Electeur de Saxe. Leur identification nous est facilitée par le numéro et poids inscrits sur les objets, servant de référence lors des multiples inventaires de cete collection à partir de 1741.

The entry in the earliest identified inventory is as follows:

1741

König. Pohln. Churf. Sächß. Silber-Cammer Inventarium 1741
I.^ster Band
Inventarium über das bey der König. Pohln. und Churf. Sächß. Silber-Cammer befind. Gold, Silber, Porcellain, Zien, Blech, Tafel- und ander Geräthe, Glaßwerck, Kupffer, Meßing, Stahl und Eisenwerck, Holtzwerck, Tafeln und Tische, aus- und unausgefütterte Kasten, auch allerhand gemeinen Haußrath und Bedürffniß. Errichtet im Jahr 1741.
(Sächsisches Hauptstaatsarchiv Dresden, Oberhofmarschallamt, T XI., Nr. 29)

[S. 135] [Cap.] III. An Silbern glantzvergoldeten Service und Epargnes

                                                                 Mrk. Lt. qu.
[...]
Vier und Zwantzig Leuchter, [No 1 – 4]
[S. 137]
[No 5 – 22]
No. 23                                                         1.  15.  2.
No. 24                                                         2.   --    2.

The various services are listed by chapter (Caput) in the order of their importance. Chapter I was for Gold, Chapter 2 for the doppelt matt vergoldete Service (twice gilt matt service). These candlesticks are in the third chapter and part of a service known as the glanzvergoldete Service (shiny gilt). In 1730 there were 12 full services in existence at the Saxon court: Three gilt, five silver and four pewter. Of the three gilt services, two were glanzvergoldet. After the death of Augustus the Strong in 1733 one of these shiny gilt services was melted to make new silver, leaving two gilt services intact, one matt and one shiny; these were added to from the remnants of other areas. In 1765 in order to pay Saxony's war debt which amounted to 45 million thaler (Arnold p. 34) the remaining glanzvergoldete Service was melted with the exception of the 24 candlesticks of which the two now offered in the sale formed a part.

Since 1774, all the silver gilt was listed together in Chapter 2 and while the twice gilt matt service, the only service left, retained its identity under the heading Service the other items were subdivided by object type: Epargnen, Leuchter, Thée und Caffé-Zeuge, etc.  The 24 silver-gilt candlesticks therefore were recorded in the section Leuchter together with 24 candelbra and 36 French-style candlesticks made by Christian Heinrich Ingermann, which had been added in 1747 (see: Sotheby's London, Important Silver & Gold Boxes, 23. November 2004, lots 82, 83)

The candlesticks now offered are recorded in the subsequent inventories of 1789 and 1882. An undated note in the last of these, the inventory of 1882, records that 6 of the 24 candlesticks were sold.(Sächsisches Hauptstaatsarchiv Dresden, Oberhofmarschallamt, T XI., Nr. 46a). No numbers or weights were given so it is unknown whether or not the sold ones included the candlesticks in this sale. Friedrich August O'Byrn listed the 24 candlesticks in 1880 as having the Dresden town mark, incuse A date letter and maker's mark SG.  The fact that he did not mention the maker's mark ID found on the present candlesticks is not surprising. Samuel Gaudich is the goldsmith behind an unknown number of the 24, but O'Byrn is known to have made mistakes (forgetting to record cyphers and muddling marks) and may have been overwhelmed by the vast quantities of silver in the treasury and unlikely to check every object on an individual basis. Numbers 15 and 16 from this series of 24 were sold: Sotheby's Zürich, A Distinguished Collection of a Lady, 9.-11. December 1997, lot 322.