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SYDNEY
Le Goût Rothschild The name Rothschild is one that immediately suggests The Collector's Auction
wealth, opulence, and luxury. The famed banking family
Tues 13 Sep, 2pm
were at the centre of international high finance during the
SYDNEY
rapid industrialisation of Europe in the nineteenth century, being responsible for supporting many of the great railway
ABOVE: A Pair of Austrian Silver
schemes as well as complex government financing for massive
Candlesticks $5,000 – 7,000
infrastructure projects such as the Suez Canal. Originally
RIGHT: 'Pandora Gifted' by John
extensive households in London, Paris, Naples, Vienna, and
Flaxman / Alamy
from Frankfurt, by the end of the century the family had the Netherlands, and their great wealth, combined with their love of art, luxury, and fine living led to the creation of the expression le goût Rothschild – “the Rothschild taste”. These elegant Viennese silver candlesticks of neo-classical
It is likely that these candlesticks belonged to Salomon
design are dated 1805, the year that Napoleon’s army
Mayer von Rothschild (1774-1855). In 1820, Prince Metternich,
stormed through Europe, ultimately occupying Vienna after
Austrian Minister for Foreign Affairs, entered into negotiations
the December defeat of the Austrian and Russian armies at
with the House of Rothschild for a large loan that was to take
the battle of Austerlitz. The fluted urn shaped nozzles are
the form of a lottery. The complicated arrangements for this
supported by draped female herms suggesting the caryatids
enormous loan demanded the presence of a Rothschild in
(the sculpted figures serving in the place of columns) of the
Vienna and thus Salomon, who had been handling Rothschild
Erechtheion in Athens, and the overall design is of a pared
affairs with Austria, moved to the city and established a bank
back classicism close to the spare linear designs of John
there. Salomon’s close ties to Metternich were crucial in
Flaxman and a foretaste of Biedermeier. The base of each
earning for the family a stake in the restructuring of Europe
candlestick is engraved with the arms of the Rothschild family
after the Napoleonic wars.
and their motto: “Concordia, Integritas, Industria” (harmony, integrity, industry). This hereditary barony was granted to the five Rothschild brothers; Amschel, Salomon, Nathan, Carl, and James, by the Austrian Emperor Francis II in 1822.
We are pleased to offer these beautiful candlesticks in our forthcoming Collector’s Auction in Sydney. RONAN SULICH / Senior Adviser, Sydney leonardjoel.com.au | 13
