FRANCE ÉPOQUE LOUIS XVI

FRANCE ÉPOQUE LOUIS XVI
PAIR OF CHENETS "AUX AMOURS SOUFFLANTS"
Gilt bronze and wrought
iron H. 32 cm, W. 37 cm, D. 12 cm
This pair of chased and gilt bronze andirons features two little loves sitting on a drape and blowing in a trunk, surrounded by two pine cones. The base of the jumping candlesticks is ornamented with gadroons, pearls, rosettes and garlands of vine branches.
Two fluted feet and a central swivel foot support the ensemble.
The theme treated in this pair of very finely executed candlesticks bears witness to the fertile imagination of the bronze-makers who frequently placed children or loves on the furnishings, clocks, candelabras, candleholders or candlesticks, thus giving a feeling of lightness and softness to their works. A model attributed to Etienne Martincourt, very close to our pair of chenets, can be found in the collections of the Château de Versailles (fig. 1). Automatically translated by DeepL. To see the original version, click here.