A MONUMENTAL PAIR OF FRENCH ORMOLU AND PATINATED BRONZE ELEVEN-LIGHT FIGURAL CANDELABRA

This monumental pair of figural candelabra was almost certainly inspired by the celebrated model, dated 1775, by Jean-Louis Prieur; an ormolu example is in the Residenz Museum, Munich (H. Ottomeyer and P. Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, p.95, pl. XIX). Although the present candelabra are not marked, the quality of the casting and chasing is of superior quality indicative of the finest fondeurs of this period such as Denière and Barbedienne.
The figures of the present pair are identical to a pair of candelabra at the British Embassy, Vienna in circa 1910 (Sotheby's London, 29 May 1996, lot 188). Another very similar pair of the same model sold Sotheby's New York, 20 April 2007, lot 160 ($312,000).
Crockfords is situated in an 18th century townhouse decorated by Robert Adam in 1771-72. It was formerly the property of Mrs. Cornelia Adair (d.1921), an American socialite and friend to Edward VII who often visited no. 30 Curzon Street; photographs taken in 1891 by Bedford Lemere show lavish interiors refurbished in a tous les Louis style, and it is certainly possible that these candelabra were at the property at this date.