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Dimensions: overall height 42 1/4 in.

(107.2cm.)

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Provenance: PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION

Private collection, Paris, sold, Sotheby's, Monaco, June 25-26, 1983, lot 291, illustrated.

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Notes: COMPARATIVE LITERATURE

Peter Hughes, The Wallace Collection, Catalogue of Furniture, London, 1996, Vol. III, pp. 1264-1271, no. 250 (F140-1). (The Wallace pair is also illustrated, Ottomeyer, Pröschel et al., Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, p. 282, fig. 4.14.3.

An identical pair of candelabra is in the Wallace Collection, where it is suggested that they can very likely be attributed in part to the ciseleur-doreur François Rémond (1747-1812) Two pairs of wall lights, one with three lights, the other with two lights, dated circa 1785 were delivered in 1804 to Fontainebleau, the former having been used in Madame Mère's salon, the latter in the bedroom of Prince Joseph, see, J.B. Samoyault, Pendules et bronzes d'ameublement entrés sous le Premier Empire, Paris, 1989. Samoyault further states that according to Christian Baulez, these lights are typical of the production of Rémond circa 1785. The Wallace collection candelabra are fitted with chains linking the candle branches, and the wall lights mentioned above were also, originally, fitted with chains, now lost.

The marble original of Cupid was exhibited by Falconet at the Salon of 1757 ('130. Une figure de Marbre (dont le modèle était à la précédente exposition) qui représente un Amour. Elle appartient à Madame la Marquise de Pompadour...'). The plaster original of the young girl was exhibited at the Salon of 1761 (''120. Une Esquisse, en plâtre, représentant une petite fille qui cache l'Arc de l'Amour'). These charming figures were extremely popular and widely imitated during the 18th century.

A pair of candelabra of the same model as the present lot was in the Daguerre sale, Christie's, London, March 25, 1791, lot 53. Since Rémond is known to have worked for Daguerre, it is possible that Daguerre commissioned the model himself. Other identical pairs have been recorded: one pair at Weston Park, exhibited Patronage Preserved, Christie's, London, January 1991, no. 46; a second pair was in the Dutasta sale, Galerie Georges Petit, Paris, June 3-4, 1926, lot 103; two pairs sold. R. Lepke, Berlin, May 12-13, 1931; a pair is in the dining room at Harewood House (Wilson, op.cit. p. 1271).