Lot 707: A good pair of French cast gilt bronze figural candlesticks 19th Century, After Corneille van Cleve, (1646-1732)

19th Century, After Corneille van Cleve, (1646-1732)
Modelled as a Nymph and Satyr respectively, each having a bellflower socket and flowerhead drip-tray, he seated upon a panther, she upon a dolphin, each with trilobe rococo base, each stamped beneath '7150' and '66' (or '99'), the Satyr additionally stamped 'RG', the sockets stamped beneath 'TT', 32,5cm, (12.75") high, (2)

These models have been sold at auction on several occasions, including;
Sotheby's Paris, 23rd September 2010 lot 266
Sotheby's New York 20th October 2006 lot 139
Christie's King Street, Champalimaud Collection, 6th-7th July 2005 lot 112, from which the following footnote is abridged:

A pair of candlesticks of this model was included in the sale of the Marquis de Marigny and de Menars, brother of Madame de Pompadour, in March 1782:- 'Une autre paire de flambeaux, dont le corps est en bronze et représente, l'un une femme montée sur un dauphin, l'autre un satyre et un tigre. Les pieds et les bobèches sont en cuivre doré.'

These candlesticks are a variant of the celebrated model held in the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, probably first executed in 1702 in silver-gilt by van Clève's brother-in-law, the goldsmith Nicolas de Launay for the bedroom of Louis XIV at Versailles.

See also similar examples in the Wallace Collection.