Pair of large finely chiseled and gilded bronze candlesticks. 
 The barrel with three caryatids in backed sheath, adorned with satyr heads and decorated with garlands of flowers. The three terms ending with feet shod in sandals. 
 The bobèche in an antique urn embellished with lions' muzzles. 
 The binet in a garland of water leaves and a row of pearls. 
 Circular base with acanthus leaves and fleurons surrounded by a row of pearls.
 Superb work of chasing and matte and shiny gilding. 

 Castle inventory number in ink under a base. 

 This model of torches corresponds to a watercolor by Jean-Démosthène Dugourc, kept at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.

 The decorator Jean-Démosthène Dugourc (1749-1825) inspired many artists of his generation. His talent is illustrated in all areas of the decorative arts, in the fabrics of Camille Pernon, on the furniture of Georges Jacob, in the projects of his brother-in-law, the architect François-Joseph Belanger, or in the production of bronzes by Gouthière or Thomire. He was appointed draftsman of the Crown furniture store and steward of the buildings of Monsieur, the king's brother in 1784. His repertoire combined a return to the antique and to nature, which he disseminated in 1782 through the publication of his collection of 'Arabesques. François Rémond, master engraver-gilder in 1774, but also a founder would have been inspired by Dugourc's projects for the realization of this pair of candlesticks of "Etruscan taste".

 A model identical to the one presented dated 1790 is kept at the Pillnitz castle near Dresden.
 Two other models of candlesticks kept in the Wallace Collection in London also illustrate the collaboration between the ornamentalist and the chaser-gilder. The first model has a four-term barrel supporting an octagonal base decorated with rosettes and satyr heads dating from 1783, commissioned by the merchant-mercer Dominique Daguerre. A pair of this model was sold by Christie's New York on October 26, 2001. The second model corresponds to four candlesticks dated 1784-1786 with a shaft formed of three draped caryatids supporting a binet in the shape of a woven basket filled with flowers.

 Two pairs of identical candlesticks from the same period sold in recent years:

 https://www.auction.fr/_fr/lot/pair-of-flambeaux-d-epoque-louis-xvi-par-francois-remond-d-apres-un-dessin-de-13830865

 https://www.thierrydemaigret.com/lot/17995/3522177

 Superb state of conservation. 
 Very beautiful original gilding. 
 Louis XVI period - Directory 


 Bibliography:

 -H.Ottomeyer, P.Pröschel et al., "Vergoldete Bronzen", Munich, 1986, Vol. I, p. 286, fig. 4.15.2.

 -P. Hughes, The Wallace Collection, Catalog of Furniture, III, London, 1996, p.1246-1250


 François Rémond (1747-1812, master in 1774):

 He was one of the most talented and important master gilder-carver bronziers in Paris between 1778 and 1805, a period during which he exercised his activity. 
 Its turnover amounted to 161,000 tournament pounds in 1784, the merchant-mercer Dominique Daguerre paid him alone the sum of 275,000 tournament pounds for the years 1786-1788.
 François Rémond also collaborated with Martin-Eloi Lignereux. 
 Working both as a foundry-carver and as a gilder, he was able to exercise considerable artistic control over his output. 

 Details that we know less, the activity of François Rémond was twofold: on the one hand he provided raw materials and days of journeyman to a foundry which sold him the cast iron; on the other hand, he had this casting transformed and he marketed the parts thus worked and transformed either half-finished, or gilded and chiselled in his own workshops.

 Foremost among his regular Daguerre customers are the cabinetmakers Roentgen (with whom Rémond was privileged in supplying him with most of the ornamental bronzes), Riesner, Frost, the goldsmith Clément, the chaser Gouthière, the watchmakers Lepaute and Lepine. 
 He worked, no doubt on models by Bélanger, for the Comte d'Artois (work at Bagatelle and the Palais du Temple) and for Baudard de Sainte-James; also for the architects Cellerier and Ledoux, and for Thélusson, clients of the latter. 
 Among his important clients, we also note Queen Marie-Antoinette, the Count of Artois, the Count of Adhémar, the Prince of Soubise, the Dukes of Orléans, Laval and Penthièvre, the Duchess of Lauzun, the Marquise de Nicolaÿ, the intendant of Cypierre, the financier Paris de Montmartel, Letizia Bonaparte and Princess Kinsky. 

 The account registers make it possible to follow its activity for about thirty years; they constitute a mine of information for art historians who can locate his works there.
 For information: François Rémond's archives were purchased by the National Archives in 1983. Extreme dates of documents: 1798-1812. Freely Communicable.