POSSIBLY BY DENIERE, PARIS, THIRD QUARTER 19TH CENTURY

The present candelabra directly correlate with Linke's index number 155, a model which is believe to have been acquired from the bronzier Henri Vian or, more likely, the firm of Denière. François Linke bought extensively at the latter's sale including sculpture patterns after Clodion and Bologna to garnitures de chiminée for which Denière was best known. A pair of candelabra, sold Christie's, London, 6 March 2014, lot 191, were both signed and stamped, once by Denière from the master model and then by Linke in his production (C. Payne, François Linke, 1855-1946, The Belle Epoque of French Furniture, Woodbridge, 2003, pp. 340-2). A cliche of the model is illustated by Payne (op. cit. p. 487). Deliberately decorated to resemble 17th century lacquer, patinated-bronze figures with gilt highlights to the costumes figures arguably reflect one of the most sophisticated phases of the 'goût Chinois' traditionally associated almost exclusively with the Martin dynasty.