Candelabra
1770-1780 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This pair of matching three-light candelabra are formed as two draped female figures supporting a vase from which emerges three candle arms and a centre stem adorned with ivy and identified as a thyrsus, a symbol of Bacchus, classical god of wine. The female figures can thus be identified as Bacchus's companions, the Maenads or Bacchantes, identified by their swirling drapery. Their large size, contrasting patination, the bronze figures with the ormolu branches, and the elegant contrasting grey marble plinth and cream marble pedestal, suggest that they were intended for placing in the centre of a dining table. The modelling of the figures is attributed to the French sculptor Louis-Simon Boizot (1743-1809) who trained in Paris and Rome at the French Academy. Boizot specialized in decorative sculpture for clocks and lighting. In 1773 he was appointed Director of the Sculpture Studio at the Sèvres porcelain manufactory. The ormolu has been attributed to François Rémond, a bronzier and gilder who worked with Simon-Louis Boizot to supply the marchand mercier Dominique Daguerre(d.1796). Daguerre was established in the rue Saint-Honoré, Paris by 1772,
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 8 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Bronze, ormolu, marble |
| Brief description | One of a pair of ormolu three light candelabra springing from a vase supported by two draped classical female bronze figures supported on a round marble stand and plinth, France, 1770-80. |
| Physical description | The three light candelabra springs from a vase supported by two draped classical bronze figures possibly cast after a model by Louis-Simon Boizot. The centre stem is formed as a thyrsus, a staff surmounted by a bunch of ivy leaves with berries associated with the rights of Bacchus, classical god of wine. The light brackets are foliated with stems of ivy and acanthus leaves; their nozzles spring from calyxes of feathers. The vase has a calyx of bay leaves.The sides of the circular marble stand are mounted with ormolu swags and three pendant drops of fruit and flowers, one of the pendant drops is missing on 964-1882. The candelabra is supported on a grey marble plinth. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Copy number | One of a pair |
| Credit line | Bequeathed by John Jones |
| Object history | John Jones Bequest, 1882 |
| Historical context | The scale of the candelabra and the symbolic association of the decoration with the rites of Bacchus suggest that they were intended for display in a dining room, probably on a centre dining table where the subtleties of modelling of the female supporters could be appreciatedin the round by the seated guests. |
| Association | |
| Summary | This pair of matching three-light candelabra are formed as two draped female figures supporting a vase from which emerges three candle arms and a centre stem adorned with ivy and identified as a thyrsus, a symbol of Bacchus, classical god of wine. The female figures can thus be identified as Bacchus's companions, the Maenads or Bacchantes, identified by their swirling drapery. Their large size, contrasting patination, the bronze figures with the ormolu branches, and the elegant contrasting grey marble plinth and cream marble pedestal, suggest that they were intended for placing in the centre of a dining table. The modelling of the figures is attributed to the French sculptor Louis-Simon Boizot (1743-1809) who trained in Paris and Rome at the French Academy. Boizot specialized in decorative sculpture for clocks and lighting. In 1773 he was appointed Director of the Sculpture Studio at the Sèvres porcelain manufactory. The ormolu has been attributed to François Rémond, a bronzier and gilder who worked with Simon-Louis Boizot to supply the marchand mercier Dominique Daguerre(d.1796). Daguerre was established in the rue Saint-Honoré, Paris by 1772, |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 964-1882 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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