Couple of Claude François Rabiat candelabra , Paris, 1810 ca.
Description:
Pair of four branches candelabra. Each candlestick has a winged victory, resting her foot on a half sphere and holding two couples of cornucopias. Both the cornucopias end with four candle-holders corollas. While the statues are in chiselled and burnished bronze, the rest is finely chiselled and gilded both with glossy and opaque finishings. The circular plinto rests on a square basement. Inside, both the candelabras have the italic signature “Rabiat” and the lettering “MER.E.R”.
Dimensions: 63,5 x 34 x 16 cm ( 25 x 13.4 x 6.3 in )
CODE: OGANOG0112624
Historical-Stylistic Analyse:
In 1759 Claude François Rabiat (Paris 1756-1815) was a probationer of Etienne Vignerelle and he was granted “Maître” as bronzesmith in 1778. The atelier was located in 41 Rue Beaubourg and was listed in the 1789 trade register. He regularly provided clocks and candelabra for other notorious bronzesmiths and clock makers, such as Thomire, Ravrio, Feuchère and Claude Galle.The inventories of the atelier, the invoices issued and the drawings give us all of this precious information. Proposing himself as a supplier, his finest bronzes, including these winged victory candelbra, always have different variants. They were normally signed on the base, like this couple.
In view of the productive years of Rabiat, the style can only be purely Empire. The exhaltation of the victory, the roman art classicism and the decorative beauty of bronze and gold are all in these candelabra. The couple had to adorn the sober red mahogany decors; all the napoleonic principles are in his masterpieces.
- Couple of Claude François Rabiat candelabra , Paris, 1810 ca.
Antiques, Art and Design
FineArt is the new ambitious Di Mano in Mano project that offers an exclusive choice of antiques and design works, presenting them for their singularity and uniqueness.
