Pair Of Candlesticks. Marble, Gilded And Patinated Bronze. Based On Designs By Clodion

Pair of candlesticks. Marble, gilded and patinated bronze. Based on designs by Clodion (Claude Michel, 1738–1814), circa the early 19th century.
Pair of three-branched candelabra, each consisting of a circular, stepped base adorned with a chain of gilded bronze beads, a patinated bronze sculpture, and the candelabra itself. The candelabra consists of a cornucopia supported by the figures, from which arms extend, ending in candleholders (decorated with volutes and classically inspired motifs), as well as a vertical shaft topped by a plant motif from which chains extend, terminating at the arms. Both figures also display classical influences: the male figure is a faun (note the small horns and the goat’s tail on his back), while the female figure is likely a nymph or a bacchante. The presence of vines and grapes clearly links these two figures to the entourage of the pagan god Bacchus or Dionysus. The influence of Neoclassicism is evident both in the decorative elements of the pair and in the theme chosen for the figures, both of which are linked to one of the best-known gods of classical mythology. The couple’s sculptures are inspired by the works of Claude Michel (1738–Paris, 1814), a French sculptor known as Clodion, whose work was recognized with awards such as the Grand Prix de sculpture from the Royal Academy in 1759, the Prix de Rome in 1762, and many others. His sculptures were so popular that, not only during the artist’s lifetime but throughout the 19th century, his designs continued to be used for the production of candelabras, small bronze figurines, clock cases, and other decorative objects. The style of these candelabras recalls the characteristic motifs of the French school of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. ·
Dimensions: 25 x 25 x 93 cm