Pair Of Gilded Bronze Torches Attributed To Claude Galle - France, Circa 1805-1810

PAIR OF GILT BRONZE CANDLESTICKS FRANCE, circa 1805-1810 Attributed to Claude GALLE (1759 - 1815) Height 28.5 cm Diameter of the base 13.5 cm Comparative bibliography: É. Dumonthier, National furniture bronzes: Lighting and Heating Bronzes, Paris, 1911, pl. 36, fig. 5. H. Ottomeyer and P. Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, volume 1, Munich, 1986, p. 326. JP Samoyault, Clocks and furnishing bronzes entered under the First Empire, Paris, 1989, p. 175, fig. 155. Elegant pair of finely chiseled and matt and polished gilded bronze candlesticks, each decorated with three vestal heads located at the top of the shaft. The binets feature Greek friezes and stripes of hearts. The barrel, frustoconical in shape, is fluted. It rests on three pairs of bare feet and on a circular base decorated with palm leaves and heart stripes. This model of torches can be compared to a drawing kept at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris, illustrating several projects for torches, including one which includes the same frustoconical shaft topped with three heads and resting on bare feet. This type of torches is attributed to the famous bronzier Claude Galle, in comparison with those delivered in 1804 for the Château de Fontainebleau. This delivery is described to us as comprising “two pairs [of three-headed torches]. This model was available with several variations, some torches being decorated with vestal virgins, others with Egyptian heads or even the bust of Diana. Claude Galle (1759-1815) is considered one of the most important bronziers of the late 18th century and the Empire. He first established himself on rue du Four then at 60 rue Vivienne in Paris. After having collaborated, with Antoine-André Ravrio and Jean Hauré, in the development of bronzes intended for the royal palaces, he made his reputation under the Empire, period during which he supplied numerous bronzes for furnishing the various imperial palaces: the Tuileries, Fontainebleau, Compiègne, Rambouillet, Le Grand and Petit Trianon in Versailles, Saint Cloud and Meudon. He also sent pieces to Italian palaces: that of Stupinigi near Turin and that of Monte Cavallo near Rome. He is the main competitor of Philippe Thomire with whom he pushed the art and mastery of bronze to the summit. All the biggest museums in the world hold works by Claude Galle (Louvre Museum, Metropolitan Museum, National Gallery etc.). This pair of torches is in perfect condition. Its original mercury gilding shows only very slight and rare traces of friction.