A pair of bronze, gilt-bronze and verde antico marble candelabra attributed to François Rémond, the figures after Louis-Simon Boizot Louis XVI. late 18th century

In overall very good condition. The gilding is less greenish and more golden and attractive than in the catalogue photograph. The gilt-bronze is slightly dirty and would benefit from a light clean according to taste.The candlearm section on both would benefit from tightening up.Three of the bobèches appear to be replacements as they are of a different design, but could easily be replaced. There is a very miniscule hole in the top of the foliate section of one candlenozzle which can be left or filled as not too noticeable.The detail of the casting is very good.There are some old very minor restorations to the marble bases, but these have been well executed and are hardly noticeable. There is evidence of old glue restorations behind the gilt-bronze swags on the bases. Very minor rubbing to the gilt-bronze as visible from the catalogue photograph. There are very minor chips with a very minor section missing from the side of one marble base which can either be left or restored. There are some breaks in the sections of the swags but these can easily be resoldered or left as they are not too noticeable.
"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."

Comparative Literature:
Christian Baulez, Versailles deux siècles d'histoire de l'art, 2002, p. 415.
Peter Hughes,The Wallace Collection, Catalogue of Furniture, Vol. III, London, 1996, p. 1284-85.

There is a virtually identical pair of candelabra on similar green marble bases in the Wallace Collection, illustrated by Hughes, op. cit., p. 1285, no. 254. The model has been attributed by Christian Baulez to Rémond and the former dates the model to around 1785, whilst adding that the palmette and palm-leaf candleholders are of models that Rémond introduced later on, in about 1800.
In 1785, Rémond created a new model of candelabra, `grand candélabres à figures ou girandoles' or, `girandoles à figure tenant un candélabre'. According to Baulez, op. cit., the earliest and rarest models can be dated to around 1785, the production of which continued for the next twenty years. The earlier models differ in decoration of the bobèches cast with pearl garlands.
There was a pair of candelabra sold in Paris in 1891, which was of the same model but had the earlier design of the candleholder with swags and beads. The identical later model of candleholders as on the offered pair, are found on a pair of candelabra at Fontainebleau, one with a male bacchante and the other with a female. The drawing from the Rémond archives upon which these candelabra are based is now in a French Private Collection. The drawing suggests that the female figure should be tying the gilt-bronze ribbon around the junction of the candlebranches.

A pair of candelabra with four candlearms was delivered in 1798 on 28th April by the marchand Xavier Labenski to Tsar Paul I `une paire de girandoles, dites à candélabres, représentant une figure de femme en bronze couleur antique posée à coté d'un candélabre portant 4 lumières'.

There are similar models with six candlearms such as the pair in the Wallace Collection, a pair in the Niarchos Collection reproduced in Connaissance des arts, November 1960 (with green marble bases circa 1785), a pair from the E.W. Beckett Collection, sold Christie's, London, 8th May 1912, lot 102 (with red marble bases).

A virtually identical pair to the present model with four candlearms, however, with the earlier design of candlenozzles with swags and beads, on rouge griotte marble bases, was sold lot 113, Sotheby's, Paris, 28th April 2009 (120,000euros).

François Rémond:
He became master gilder in 1774 and rapidly became the supplier to Dominique Daguerre then Martin-Eloi Lignereux, the renowned marchands-merciers at the end of Louis XVI's reign. His commercial activity is best revealed by his livre-journal for the years 1777-87 and the record of his payments to suppliers which have partly been preserved covering the years 1785 to 1806 which have been brought to light by C. Baulez, op. cit. He is known to have worked with the sculptors Foucou, Budelot and Roguier however the name that appears most frequently is that of Boizot. The collaboration between Boizot and Rémond is best illustrated by the recreation of models made at Sèvres and then executed by Rémond for Daguerre. There are therefore a number of gilt-bronzes, lights and clocks made by Rémond after models attributed to Boizot and the female dancing figures in drapery on this pair of candelabra are a good example of this collaboration.