An American Silver Twelve-light candelabrum, Tiffany & Co., New York, mark of Edward C. Moore, circa 1870

the stepped domed base with ovolo band and raised on for bracket supports surmounted by female heads flanked by acanthus, the stem formed as a fully modeled exotic female figure raising above her head the detachable leaf-capped scroll branches, the bulb-form sockets with fixed drip-pans above openwork anthemion drops, bud finial, marked on base Tiffany & Co., Union Square and numbered 2719-6113

slight wobble, some nozzles with unenven rims, one leaf tip missing to drop under a sconce, otherwise good condition
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

A similar model of candelabrum, together with a punch bowl and a pair of wine coolers, comprised the presentation services given by the United States Government to the three neutral arbitrators of the famous "Alabama Claims" of 1872.  Although Britian was officially neutral during the Civil War its government sanctioned the construction of five ships, including the Alabama, to be built for the Confederacy.  Following the war, the United States sued the British Crown for breach of neutrality, and arbitrators from Brazil, Switzerland and Italy ordered Britian to pay reparations of $15 million.  As a token of gratitude the United States Government commissioned the services from Tiffany & Co.  The candelabra were signed by Eugene Soligny, to whom John Loring attributes the entire service.  When one service was displayed at the Tiffany store in Union Square The Brooklyn Daily Argus reported "an artist will most conscientiously praise the exquisite workmanship.  The terminal human heads, the beading, the scroll-work., the vines and grapes of the vase [punch bowl], and the figures and decorations of the candelabra... are certainly perfectly wrought" (Loring p. 124).

At least one service was displayed at the Vienna Exposition of 1873.  Today, the service given to the Brazilian representative Viscount d'Itajuba is in the Art Institute of Chicago, and that given to Swiss representative Jacques Staempfli is in the Museé d'Art et d'Histoire, Geneva.  The pieces given to the Italian representative, Count Frederico Sclopsis di Salerano (1798-1787), president of the Albama commission, have not been traced.