Roman silversmith and bronzier Luigi Valadier (1726-1785) was a member of a dynasty of goldsmiths, sculptors and craftsmen that began with his father, Andrea, who had come to Rome from Provence in 1714. He was apprenticed to his father until 1754, when he was sent to Paris for further training, and finally took over his father's workshop in 1759. He was the most celebrated Roman metalworker of his period, whose clientele included the Borghese, Chigi and Braschi-Onesti families. He supplied finely crafted objects in a number of different fields including bronzes, furniture and pietre dure to the distinguished homes and palaces. His son Giuseppe (1762-1839) concentrated more on architectural commissions, but also supplied furniture to Pope Pius VI, Duke Luigi Braschi Onesti and Prince Camillo Borghese.

For a similar ormolu-mounted marble candelabrum see A. González-Palacios, Luigi Valadier, New York, 2018, p. 234. A similar pair mounted as lamps were sold in the Collection of Jayne Wrightsman at Christie's, New York, October 14, 2020, lot 172 ($10,000).