Paris 1776, Solid Silver, Jean-françois Villemsens, Pair Of Louis XVI Candlesticks

A sumptuous pair of Louis XVI period candlesticks in solid cast and chased silver, bearing the hallmarks of the tax farmers of Paris for the period 1776-1777. They are of exceptional and remarkable quality. The decoration is partly quite classic for the Louis XVI style, but the cartouches on the bases feature a motif I have never before seen on a silver candlestick of this period, though it is found on clocks and gilt bronze cassolettes of the same era. It depicts a hearth containing the sacred fire of the Vestal Virgins, surrounded by clouds of thick smoke. The Roman goddess Vesta was the goddess of the hearth and, by extension, of the home and family. It is therefore not surprising to find this motif on a pair of candlesticks intended to illuminate dinners in the center of the home. However, its use is, in my opinion, extremely rare in Louis XVI style silver tableware. The candlesticks are perfectly hallmarked on the inside of the base and the top . They weigh 1600 grams and are in perfect condition.