Pair of gilt bronze Empire candlesticks

Pair of gilt bronze French Empire candlesticks, attributed to Parisian bronzier Louis-Isidore Choiselat, known as Choiselat-Gallien. In the collection of the Mobilier National is a similar pair that was delivered by Louis-Isidore 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. The quality of making and the superbly detailed chiseling are befitting for the top bronzier Choiselat.


This pair of French Empire candlesticks has been executed in gilt bronze. It is in an excellent state of preservation with original mat and shiny mercury gilding.


Origin: Paris circa 1815.

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. 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.


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