A LOUIS XVI ORMOLU CANDELABRA BASE

This base was likely once part of an impressive candelabrum. A pair of candelabra, apparently of the same form as the present lot, are at The Wallace Collection (see P. Hughes, Catalogue of Furniture, The Wallace Collection, Vol. III, pp 1255-1259, no. 248). The Wallace candelabra, have the same base, legs terminating in hoof feet and branches with Egyptian heads as the present lot and additionally feature a central vase of lapis lazuli issuing ormolu flowering stems above a central spiralling snake and three sphinxes. François Rémond delivered a pair of candelabra 'à trédpied portant huit Lumières Et six sphinx' to Dominique Daguerre on 28th December 1783. A related set of three, of slightly different form, with seated goats instead of sphinxes were sold from Mentmore in Buckinghamshire, Sotheby's, 18-20 May 1977, vol. I, lot 65.