A PAIR OF LARGE FRENCH PARCEL-GILT AND PATINATED BRONZE FIGURAL SEVEN-LIGHT TORCHERES, TITLED 'DEUX FEMMES DE LA RENAISSANCE'

Emile-Coriolan-Hippolyte Guillemin made his debut at the Salon in 1870, later winning an Honorable Mention for sculpture in 1897. The present figures are a departure from the Orientalist figures and busts for which Guillemin is best remembered, however the present pair is no less exotic. The largest (150 cm.) of three available sizes, each figure wears a bejeweled diadem in their intricately plaited hair and draped robes held by a repoussé breastplate cast with arabeseques. They number alongside two other models of candélabres by Guillemin; 'Deux Femmes: Indienne et Persane' and 'Deux Femmes Japonaises' which are illustrated in Barbedienne's 1886 catalogue. An example of the smallest reduction (95 cm., excluding fitments) was sold at Christie's, London, 10 September 2013, lot 182 (£43,750).