Pair Of Gilt Bronze Candlesticks - Claude Galle Or Ravrio - Louis XVI Period - Directoire

A rare and elegant pair of gilt bronze candlesticks, made in Paris at the end of the 18th century, during the Louis XVI-Directoire period. Exemplifying the quality of their casting and chasing, this pair perfectly illustrates the refinement and rigor of the Neoclassical style then prevalent in the work of the great Parisian bronze casters. The candlesticks rest on a circular base adorned with a design of finely chased inverted leaves, an emblematic motif of the end of Louis XVI's reign. The slender, well-balanced stem has a fluted shank, while the socket is in the form of a richly crafted vase, embellished with two scrapers and highlighted by a frieze of exquisitely executed pearls. The whole presents a perfect harmony of proportions and a decorative interpretation of great elegance. Based on their typology and quality, these candlesticks can be attributed to the circle of the great Parisian bronze casters, and more specifically to the works of Claude Galle or Ravrio, both famous for their fluted stem models and inverted leaf decorations. This attribution is supported by museum comparisons: a very similar pair of candlesticks is held at the Château de Fontainebleau, having entered the collections in 1810 for the apartment of the King of Naples, while another variant adorned the bedroom of Madame, Duchess of Angoulême, as early as 1817. According to the research of Jean-Pierre Samoyault, although the archives of the Royal Furniture Repository do not always specify deliveries, this model and its variants appear to have been produced by either Claude Galle or Ravrio. The original gilding displays a beautiful homogeneity and a warm patina, with slight wear perfectly consistent with the age and use of these candlesticks. The overall state of preservation is very good, highlighting the intrinsic quality of this pair. With their understated elegance, their direct reference to models delivered to royal residences, and their prestigious attribution, these candlesticks constitute a pair of exceptional quality, ideal for a classic interior, a collection of gilt bronzes, or a decor inspired by 18th-century France.