Collection Online as of May 31, 2023

Candelabrum

1757–1758

Part of a set. See all set records

fabricated by

François Thomas Germain

(French, 1726–1791)

France, Paris, 18th century

Silver

Diameter: 19.9 cm (7 13/16 in.); Overall: 38.1 x 24.5 cm (15 x 9 5/8 in.)

Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1940.14.1

Location

216A French and German

Description

This pair of candelabra is from an enormous service made for the Russian court in the 1750s.

Inscriptions

Inscription

[Maker’s mark of Francois-Thomas Germain, beneath base]

Inscription

[Charge mark of Eloy Brichard, 1756−1762, beneath base]

Inscription

[Warden's mark For Paris, 1757−1758, beneath base]

Inscription

[Discharge mark for work intended for export, 1756−1775, beneath base]

Inscription

[Discharge mark for work intended for export, 1756−1775, on base]

Inscription

[Hallmarks for Saint Petersburg, on base]

Inscription

[Assay mark of Ivan Frolov, on base]

Inscription

[Russian standard of the French silver, on base]

Inscription

[Maker’s mark of Francois-Thomas Germain, master silversmith on October 16, 1748, beneath drip pan of each three bobeches]

Inscription

[Charge Mark Of Eloy Brichard, 1756−1762, beneath drip pan of each three bobeches]

Inscription

[Discharge mark for work intended for export, probably 1733−1775, beneath drip pan of each three bobeches]

Inscription

[Warden's mark for Paris, 1757-1758, beneath drip pan of each three bobeches]

Inscription

[Russian standard of the French silver, beneath drip pan of one of three bobeches]

Inscription

[Assay mark of Ivan Frolov, beneath drip pan of one of three bobeches]

Inscription

[Charge mark for large work of Eloy Brichard, 1756−1762, on bayonet attachment of candelabra]

Inscription

[Warden's mark for Paris, 1757-1758, on bayonet attachment of candelabra]

Inscription

[Illegible mark in a square, on one bobeche]

Inscription

[Engraved beneath base]: “Fait. Par. F. T. Germain. Sculp[teu]r. Orf[ev]re. Du Roy. Aux. Galleries. Du Louvre. A Paris- 1758”

Inscription

[Engraved beneath base]: "Du no. 31"

Inscription

[Beneath base]:"No 463"

Inscription

[Russian Imperial Coat-of-arms, engraved beneath base]

Inscription

[Modern inscription with black ink, beneath base]: "L5 ... 51/w-8"

Inscription

[Modern inscription (illegible) in a rectangular paper label on the base, engraved. Cipher composed with two “M”’s (?) surmounted by a royal crown]

Inscription

[Engraved on candelabra bayonet attachment]: "No 463"

Inscription

[On candelabra bayonet attachment]: "du No 31"

Inscription

[Engraved cipher with two "M"s (?) surmounted by a royal crown, on one bobeche]

Provenance

made for the Russian Court in the 1750s. (Arnold Seligmann, Rey & Co., New York).

Citations

The Cleveland Museum of Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art Handbook. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1958. Mentioned: cat. no. 294 archive.org

The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1966. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1966. Reproduced: p. 138 archive.org

The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1969. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1969. Reproduced: p. 138 archive.org

The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1978. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978. Reproduced: p. 183 archive.org

Exhibition history

Exhibition of the Month: "Rococo Style in Various Arts. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (June 7-September 30, 1945).