Important pair of Empire period gilt bronze and patinated ca - Lot 103

Important pair of Empire period gilt bronze and patinated candelabra, attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire, Paris, circa 1805-1815 A pair of candelabra in finely chased bronze, gilded with mercury and patinated, each centered on a winged female figure representing an antique Victory, treated in a slender, dynamic posture, resting on a gilded sphere adorned in relief with a griffin; the figures, with their fluid drapery and precise modeling, support a three-light bouquet above their heads, formed of scrolled arms richly decorated with foliage, palmettes and neoclassical elements, organized around a central shaft topped by a flame motif; the composition, both vertical and balanced, is fully in keeping with the formal vocabulary of the First Empire, characterized by references to Antiquity and architectural rigor; the polygonal bases are adorned with relief panels depicting stylized Victories framed by pilasters, reinforcing the iconographic unity of the whole; the quality of the casting, the finesse of the chasing, as well as the substantial weight of the set (17.9 kg per pair) testify to the high quality of solid bronze production, typical of the great Parisian workshops of the early 19th century, and bring these candelabras closer to the production of Pierre-Philippe Thomire, to whom they can be attributed by stylistic comparison; the original mercury gilding, combined with a nuanced antique patina on the figures, is well-preserved and confirms that these candelabras were carefully crafted for an elite clientele during the First Empire. Details: Period: Empire, circa 1805-1815 - Origin: Paris - Attribution: Pierre-Philippe Thomire - Material: mercury gilded bronze and patinated bronze - Height: approx. 72 cm - Base: approx. 14 × 14 cm - Weight: 17.9 kg (pair) - Condition: very good original condition, wear to gilding, old patina preserved