Empire Candelabras, 1800s, Set of 2

Exceptional Pair of Empire Candelabra - Standing 134 centimetres (approximately 52.8 inches)

Attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire
France, early 19th century

An imposing pair of Empire-period gilt bronze candelabra, featuring figures of Greek Muses. Each candelabrum is fitted with eighteen lights arranged on two tiers, with cast candle arms decorated with acanthus motifs and scrolling forms, and a central urn-shaped element, set on flared, fluted and reeded columns. The structure is supported by two Muses, Euterpe and Erato, standing on plinth bases.

Standing 134 centimetres (approximately 52.8 inches) high, this pair belongs to a monumental category rarely encountered, suggesting an original destination for grand, representative interiors.

Exceptional quality and presence

This pair is attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire on the basis of numerous stylistic affinities with documented works by this outstanding bronzier. The quality of execution, aesthetic refinement, and scale of these candelabra are uncommon: the precision of the chasing, the clarity of the details, and the overall balance of the composition point to the finest Parisian productions of the Consulate and Empire periods.

The Muses represented

The two candelabra depict two Muses from Greek tradition:

Erato, associated with letters, sciences, and the arts

Euterpe, linked to music, song, and lyric poetry

In Greek mythology, the Muses were goddesses presiding over various branches of the arts and sciences. They were the nine daughters of Zeus, king of the gods, and Mnemosyne, goddess of memory. Apollo, god of light, music, prophecy, and poetry, was their leader.

The use of classical Muses as supporting figures for candelabra was a particularly appreciated motif in 19th-century French decoration, fully consistent with neoclassical aesthetics and the iconographic repertoire of the Empire period.

Pierre-Philippe Thomire, master of gilt bronze

Pierre-Philippe Thomire (1751–1843), French sculptor and bronzier, is regarded as the most important bronzier of the First French Empire for ornamental gilt bronze objects and furniture mounts.

His neoclassical and Empire productions established exceptionally high standards. He trained in the workshop of Pierre Gouthière, the renowned ciseleur-doreur active during the Louis XVI period, before opening his own workshop in 1776.

In 1783, succeeding Thomas Duplessis as bronzier at the Sèvres Manufactory, he became the King’s official chaser and gilder. The execution of the bronzes for a monumental Sèvres vase now in the Louvre further enhanced his reputation, already considerable on the eve of the French Revolution. It was, however, under the Empire that his career reached its peak.

In association with the Dutermes, in 1804 he acquired the important collection of the merchant-haberdasher and bronzier Martin-Éloy Lignereux. In 1806, in recognition of his merit, he was awarded a gold medal at the Exposition of Industrial Products. His renown enabled him to work for a highly prestigious clientele and to receive commissions for major imperial residences, including Fontainebleau and the Grand Trianon.