Candelabra

A Remarkable Pair of Candelabra

by Sormani of Paris

Paul Sormani (Paris)

A Remarkable Pair of Ormolu-Mounted Marble Candelabra Gilt bronze, Marble, Porphyry H: 56.5 in / 143 cm Dia: 19.5 in / 50 cm

After the originals by Jean-François Lorta (1752-1837) Residing at the Louvre Constructed from the unusual combination of pure white marble and gilt bronze; the magnificent candelabra modelled as Antique-style female figures, one with the floral wreath representing Spring, and the other having the attributes of Autumn with grapes in her hair; each standing on a porphyry and bronze pedestal bordered by a laurel torus, each figure effortlessly

carrying a fluted marble torch enriched with gilt bronze cabling, palmettes, beads and culots; the whole issuing three large acanthus scrolls holding rich swags of flowers and fruit with foliate nozzles and beaded bobèches, in the centre, on three winged female sphinxes, stands Apollo’s tripod. The marbles signed “Joan Fr Lorta sculp. 1788” and bearing the maker’s stamp “Sormani Paris.” Recently electrified.

French, circa 1860

These spectacular candelabra, sumptuously combining carved white marble figures with richly cast candle arms in gilt-bronze, are inspired by the celebrated set of candelabra with figures emblematic of the four Seasons supplied by the sculptor JeanFrançois Lorta in 1788 to Mesdames

Adelaïde and Victoire, daughters of Louis XV, for the grand salon of the château de Bellevue as part of a lavish refurbishing scheme (figs 1-2).

They remained at Bellevue during the Revolution, but were later moved to the Tuileries in 1807, when they were installed in Empress Josephine’s second salon. In 1830 the four were split up, with Summer and Winter remaining initially at the Tuileries in the Galerie de Diane before being moved to Fontainebleau to the bedchamber of the Duc d’Orléans, while Spring and Autumn were briefly at Versailles (1839-1840) before being moved to the Empress’s bedchamber at Fontainebleau where they remained from 1857-1930.

Literature:

Figure 1. One of the original candelabra on view at the Louvre, circa 1788, by JeanFrançois Lorta

Alcouffe, Daniel, Anne Dion-Tenenbaum, and Gérard Mabille. Gilt Bronzes in the Louvre. Dijon: Faton, 2004, pp. 181-85, no.

93, illustrating the candelabra in the Louvre.

Ref. 9692

Figure 2. One of the original candelabra on view at the Louvre, circa 1788, by Jean-François Lorta