Pair Of Candlestick Angels In Solid Silver

Louis XIV Period - Brussels, 1681–1682

A remarkable pair of solid silver funeral angels, made in Brussels in 1681–1682, during the reign of Louis XIV. Given their size, the quality of their craftsmanship, and the precision of their dating, these figures constitute an important work of 17th-century Baroque goldsmithing.

Kneeling on clouds and arranged as a pair, the two angels feature large, finely chiseled wings, wavy hair, and expressive faces. Their flowing drapery, which partially reveals the torso, emphasizes the movement of the bodies and the richness of the Baroque style.

Each angel holds a candleholder designed to hold a candle or a tapper. The raised hand holds a ring used to stabilize the assembly.

The figures are secured with screws to molded ebony bases. The front of each base is adorned with a silver appliqué that is repoussé, chiseled, and openwork: a central cartouche is framed by volutes, foliage, and garlands of fruit.

The reverse sides bear the Brussels hallmarks: the head of Saint Michael, the city’s mark; the lion of Brabant; and the crowned annual letter “L,” legible on one of the angels and more faintly visible on the other. These hallmarks allow the pair to be dated to 1681–1682. A crowned “O,” a Dutch mark used in 1807 to re-inspect antique pieces, attests to its passage through the inspection system of the Kingdom of Holland.

Master silversmith: unidentified; no master’s hallmark found.

Materials: solid silver, ebony.

Dimensions: height 46 cm; width 23 cm; depth 11 cm.

Condition: very good condition.

Note:

The preservation of such a pair is particularly remarkable. At the end of the 18th century, revolutionary confiscations and requisitions led to the disappearance of a significant portion of the religious silverware from the former Netherlands. Many pieces were sent to be melted down. These two candle-bearing angels, still marked with the Dutch re-inspection hallmark from 1807, thus survived a period that saw the disappearance of many comparable church objects.