Pair Of Gilt Bronze Egyptian Candlesticks, Attributed To C. Galle - Empire Period

PAIR OF GILT-BRONZE CANDLESTICKS Attributed to Claude GALLE (1759 - 1815)
FRANCE, circa 1805-1810

Height 29 cm
Base diameter 14 cm

Comparative bibliography:
- É. Dumonthier, Les bronzes du mobilier national : Bronzes d'Éclairage et de Chauffage, Paris, 1911, pl. 36, fig. 5.
- H. Ottomeyer and P. Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, tome 1, Munich, 1986, p. 326.
- JP Samoyault, Pendules et bronzes d'ameublement entrers sous le Premier Empire, Paris, 1989, p. 175, fig. 155.

Elegant pair of finely chiseled and gilded bronze candlesticks, matt and polished, each decorated with three Egyptian heads located at the top of the shaft. The rounded bobeches are decorated with an interlacing frieze and elegant guilloché work. The truncated cone-shaped shaft is fluted. It rests on three pairs of bare feet and a circular base decorated with palmettes and heart-shaped stripes.

It is highly likely that this pair of candlesticks was made according to a design by the famous designer Charles Percier (1764-1838), as evidenced by a drawing kept at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris (CD3855, fol. 53, N. 803). This watercolor drawing is part of a small album that served as a catalog for a Parisian bronze-maker, in which the central design corresponds in every way to our pair of candlesticks, with the same truncated cone-shaped shaft topped with three Egyptian heads and resting on bare feet.

This type of torch is traditionally attributed to the famous bronze-worker Claude Galle, by comparison with those he delivered in 1804 for the Château de Fontainebleau. This delivery is described as comprising "two pairs [of torches] with three heads." A pair of this model was in 1807 in the salon of the Emperor's aides-de-camp: "two pairs of torches in chased and gilded copper, with round shafts, decorated with three figures and their feet, ornaments and palmettes" (Fontainebleau, Museum Archives). This model was produced in several variations, some torches being decorated with vestals, others with Egyptian heads or the bust of Diana or the heads of helmeted men.

Claude Galle (1759-1815) is considered one of the most important bronze-workers of the late 18th century and of the Empire. Received as a master gilder in 1786, he first established himself on rue du Four and then at 60 rue Vivienne in Paris. After collaborating with Antoine-André Ravrio and Jean Hauré on the creation of bronzes for royal palaces, he made his name under the Empire, a period during which he supplied numerous bronze furnishings for the various imperial palaces: the Tuileries, Fontainebleau, Compiègne, Rambouillet, the Grand and Petit Trianon at Versailles, Saint Cloud and Meudon. He also sent pieces to Italian palaces: Stupinigi near Turin and Monte Cavallo near Rome. He was the main competitor of Philippe Thomire, with whom he pushed the art and mastery of bronze to the highest level. All the greatest museums in the world hold works by Claude Galle (the Palaces of Versailles, Fontainebleau, Compiègne, the Victoria & Albert Museum, etc.).

This pair of candlesticks is in perfect condition. Its original mercury gilding shows only very light and rare traces of rubbing on the base.