A pair of Louis XVI ormolu and patinated bronze three-light candelabra, attributed to Pierre Gouthière circa 1780-1785

each with three candle branches of naturalistic ormolu flowers and leaves issuing from a patinated bronze figure of a young seated satyr with instruments and ewer in ormolu at feet, on a bleu turquin marble square pedestal, mounted with lion masks and female masks, raised on a white marble base mounted with bead and leaf cast ormolu mounts.

Drilled for electricity. One with a restored break (approximately 1 cm) to one stem; one leaf is broken at base; one bud is lacking; one vacant hole for lacking stem; a 1 cm restored chip to marble base. Other with a leaf broken and bent but still attached; one leaf is replaced; one vacant hole for lacking stem; a 1 cm chip to marble at front proper right corner. Bronzes with rubbing to patination to high areas; surface dirt and light surface abrasions. Ormolu with very minor oxidation, surface dirt, and surface scratches. Marble with small chips to edges and corners.
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.

The attribution of these candelabra to Pierre Gouthière (1732-1813) rests on similarities to pieces documented as having been made by him. In 1767, Louis-Jeanne de Durfort, duchesse de Mazarin (1735-1781) purchased a townhouse on Quai Malaquais, Paris. It was to be transformed under the architect François-Joseph Belanger, who was joined by Chalgin in 1777, with magnificent and luxurious apartments in the pure neoclassical style. Gouthière's role is highlighted in the "memoire des modèles en bronze, ciselure et dorure... faites pour le service de Madame la Duchesse de Mazarin sous les ordres et dessins de Monsieur Belanger premier architecte de Monseigneur le Comte d'Artois par Gouthière ciseleur doreur du Roy en 1781." This document, reproduced C. Baulez, "Pierre Gouthière (1732-1813)" taken from Vergoldete Bronzen, vol. 2., Munich, 1986, pp. 633-639, details the various stages involved including the models in terracotta and wax to be approved before production.

Gouthière supplied in 1781 for the Grand Salon a pair of wall lights now in the Louvre and discussed by Gérard Mabille in D. Alcouffe et al., Gilt Bronzes in the Louvre, Dijon, 2004, pp. 247-251. Of superlative quality, the branches are decorated with poppies in  bloom very similar to those on the candelabra in this lot. He also supplied for the same room the ormolu mounts for a bleu turquin marble table in the Frick Museum (see T. Dell, Furniture in the Frick Collection, Part 2, 1992, pp. 104-123) centered by a bacchante mask similar to that on the base of these candelabra. The fireplace in the room, now at the Chateau de Ferrières (see Hachette, Les Châteaux de l'Ile de France, 1965, p. 269) incorporated standing figures of satyresses also executed by Gouthière after models by Jean-Joseph Foucou which are strongly reminiscent of the infant satyrs on these candelabra. Another fireplace of this model is in the Frick Museum (see T. Dell, op. cit., pp. 124-133). Interestingly all of these pieces, from the Grand Salon including a pair of pedestals illustrated C. Baulez, Pierre Gouthière, op cit., pp. 582-583, incorporated bleu turquin marble as on this pair of candelabra. The sculpteur-marbrier employed has been identified as Jacques Adam. 

The Duchesse died on March 17, 1781 and her collections were dispersed in two sales in 1781 and 1784.  

Pierre Gouthière (1732-1813)

Born the son of a saddlemaker in Bar-sur-Aube in 1732, Gouthière is considered to be the greatest ciseleur-doreur of his time. He is credited with the invention of la dorure au mat. Appointed doreur seul ordinaire of the Menus Plaisirs in 1767, he counted among his clients the King, the comte d'Artois, and the duc de Penthièvre as well as Madame du Barry, the duc d'Aumont, the marquis de Marigny and Princesse Kinsky. The deaths of many of his most important clients and the difficulty he experienced in getting paid contributed to his bankruptcy in 1787.

François-Joseph Belanger (1744-1818)

Belanger was highly influential in his capacity as architect and landscape designer in developing and disseminating the late Louis XVI style. His most celebrated commissions include the decoration of Bagatelle in the Bois-de-Boulogne for the comte d'Artois, the Folie Sainte-James, the gardens at Beloeil and Méréville as well as the decoration of the duchesse de Mazarin's townhouse. He was appointed as designer for the Menus Plaisirs in 1767 and collaborated with Gouthière on the Jewel Cabinet executed in 1770 for the marriage of Marie-Antoinette.