Rennes, 1740–1742, Michel-eloy Letailleur, Pair Of Louis XV Candlesticks In Solid Silver

This pair of silver candlesticks, crafted in Rennes in 1740–1741 by silversmith Michel Éloi Letailleur, features an elegant, architectural silhouette characteristic of the 18th century. Each candlestick rests on a broad, slightly undulating hexagonal base, accented by successive moldings. The slender, baluster-shaped shaft is punctuated by several bulges, rings, and molded projections that lend it a harmonious balance. The upper section culminates in a hexagonal cup designed to hold the candle. The piece as a whole is distinguished by the simplicity of its decoration, the finesse of its proportions, and the beautiful sheen of antique silver. Inside the base are four clearly legible hallmarks: the master silversmith’s mark, the guild letter, the charge mark, and even the discharge mark.

Baptized in Rennes on June 14, 1714, Michel-Éloy Le Tailleur belonged to an ancient dynasty of goldsmiths whose activity has been documented since the mid-16th century. From generation to generation, the Le Tailleur family practiced their craft in Rennes, while some family members also worked in the colonies. Michel-Éloy was the son of Jean-Éloy Le Tailleur, himself a master goldsmith from Rennes, and Guillemette Roulloin.

He began an apprenticeship in 1725 with the goldsmith Jean-Pierre Buchet, completed his training as a journeyman in his father’s workshop, and then embarked on a tour of France that took him to Paris and Besançon, among other places. On November 11, 1739, following his father’s retirement, he was admitted as a master goldsmith in Rennes. His hallmark combines the letters M and T, a crowned fleur-de-lis, and an ermine, the emblem of Brittany.

Based on Rue de Bordeaux, Michel-Éloy held several positions within the goldsmiths’ guild: he was elected provost in 1744, then hallmark keeper in 1748. In 1740, he married Marie-Françoise Burnel, with whom he had a son, Nicolas-Marie, who in turn trained as a silversmith. Nicolas-Marie worked for some twenty years in Île-de-France and the colonies. Serving as dean of the guild from 1774 onward, Michel-Éloy retired from the trade in 1780. He died in Rennes on March 3, 1785, at the age of seventy, leaving behind the memory of a highly regarded craftsman and the legacy of a family deeply connected to the history of Rennes goldsmithing.

Total weight: 908 g.