A LOUIS XV ORMOLU ROCOCO CANDLESTICK AFTER A DESIGN BY JUSTE-AURELE MEISSONIER

A LOUIS XV ORMOLU ROCOCO CANDLESTICK

AFTER A DESIGN BY JUSTE-AURELE MEISSONIER, C.1745

modelled with a cherub supporting a rocaille decorated stem, with a detachable drip-pan, on a pierced 'C' scroll and rocaille base

20.5cm high

Provenance

Alfred de Rothschild (1842-1918)

Lionel de Rothschild (1882-1942)

Edmund de Rothschild (1916-2009)

The Trustees of Exbury House

Catalogue Note

Juste-Aurele Meissonier(1695-1750) was the leading and most extravagant pioneer of the Rococo style. He was born in Italy, the son of a silversmith and sculptor, but moved to Paris to work for the Royal Gobelins Manufactory. He received his warrant as master goldsmith from Louis XV in 1724. Described by one of his contemporaries as an 'unruly genius, and what's more, spoilt by Italy', he produced designs for chairs, tables, lanterns, candlesticks, clocks and even crucifixes.

A closely related pair of candlesticks is in the Wallace Collection, London and illustrated in the Wallace Collection Catalogues, 1956, p.21, nos. F78-79. A pair of almost identical candlesticks from the collection of the late Sir Jasper and Lady More of Linley Hall, Shropshire, was sold by Christie's, The Collector, 15th November 2017, lot 239 for £17,500 (including fees).