Pair of ormolu mounted Sèvres style porcelain candelabra

This pair of candelabra is formed from ormolu (gilt bronze) and porcelain. The porcelain elements are in the style of Sèvres, with bleu celeste colouration and typically Rococo style imagery. The porcelain plaques that decorate the front of each candelabrum are painted in pastel shades with scenes of angelic female figures.

Each candelabrum in this pair stands on a rectangular ormolu base, which is inset with painted porcelain plaques, draped with ormolu acanthus leaf form aprons, and raised by two scrolled feet. The square-profile tapered columnar stem of each candelabrum is inset with the painted porcelain plaques described above. To the side of each stem is mounted an ormolu ram’s head with ormolu drapery suspended between them. Each stem is surmounted by a bulbous, porcelain vase-form element, raised by an ormolu socle, from which the ormolu branches of the candelabrum spring. Each candelabrum supports five foliate branches, four of which rise and then fall before rising again—in effect creating an exaggerated S shape—before terminating in the candle holders. A fifth arm rises vertically from the top of each candelabrum.