Large Pair Of Empire Candlesticks

Pair of gilt and patinated bronze French Empire candlesticks, attributed to Parisian bronzier Louis-Isidore Choiselat, known as Choiselat-Gallien (1784-1853). In the collection of the Mobilier National is a similar pair (inv. number GML-331-002) that was delivered by Choiselat.


These Empire candlesticks have a fluted stem on a circular base with refined chiseled decorations of leaves. The center bears a base with shell leafs and water leaves. Further, above the fluted conical shaft they have decorations of palmettes passing into a flared capital with chiseled leaves forming a bobèche.


This pair of French Empire candlesticks has been executed in gilt and patinated bronze with their original mat and shiny gilding. They are in a very good condition.


Details
Origin: France.
Dimensions: 28 cm high, diameter 13 cm.


Louis-Isidore Choiselat (1784-1853)
Louis-Isidore Choiselat (1784-1853), also known as Choiselat-Gallien, was a Parisian goldsmith, bronzier, founder, chaser and gilder. He was one of the leading Parisian bronze manufacturers of is time. Son of a Parisian salt merchant, he was apprenticed to the bronzier Jean-Baptiste Matthieu Gallien (b. 1753). Later in 1812 he married Gallien’s daughter Ambroisine Marie (1794-1861) and then succeeded his father-in-law’s business at 93 rue de Verrerie in Paris. Louis-Isidore and Ambroisine had at least seven children among whom was Charles Choiselat (1815-58). Charles later became a photographer, known for a number of portrait daguerreotypes including one of his father seated beside a globe, of which there is an example in the Musée d’Orsay Paris.


Literature
Collection of the Mobilier National inv. number GML-331-002.
Koller auctions, Zürich, 31 March 2001, where an identical pair, except with gilt bronze shaft, appeared in auction.