Each on three paw and ball feet with lioness mask terminals, the shaped circular base chased with Egyptian motifs, the openwork baluster stem applied with three elephants' heads, the sockets applied with dragons, the screw-in branches each with six sconces, drip pans and detachable nozzles, the centres with detachable fruit finials, marked on bases, branches, drip-pans, sockets, and nozzles
25¹⁄₄ in. (64 cm.) high
298 oz. 4 dwt. (9,276 gr.)

Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, New York, 6 April 1989, lot 74.
Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, London, 13 April 2011, lot 258.

Please note this lot is the property of a consumer. See H1 of the Conditions of Sale.

Conditions of Sale
FAQs
This lot is offered by Christie Manson & Woods Ltd

Brought to you by

Lot Essay

These candelabra are probably after a design by Auguste Adolphe Willms (1827-1899), Elkington's chief artist, employed by Elkington to produce unique designs together with other French designers including Benjamin Schlick, Pierre-Emile Jeannest, Leonard Morel-Ladeuil, Edward Welby Pugin, G. Halliday and Christopher Dresser.
Willms joined Elkington's design team in 1855 and four years later he was heading the studio where he remained until his death.

The design of these candelabra borrow from the inkstand designed by Willms for Elkington, exhibited at the 1862 International Exhibition, London (The Art Journal Illustrated Catalogue of the International Exhibition 1862, London and New York, p. 195). The style described as 'Eastern' with these distinctive elephant heads, reflect the firm's interest in the Far East before everyone's else, started in the 1860's, under the guidance of Willms which reflects the growing taste for the exotic.