Froment Meurice

The Baron De Rothschild’s Candelabra

Froment Meurice

The Baron De Rothschild’s Candelabra

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An Important Set of Four French 19th Century Candelabra

Paris circa, 1850
Goldsmith’s mark of François-Désirée Froment-Meurice

Height: 32 in. (81 cm.), Weight: 1834ozs (59 kg)

These extraordinary triumphs of the jeweller and goldsmith François-Désirée Froment-Meurice encapsulate the total exuberance of this moment in time in Paris. The detail in their naturalism stretches the designer and modeller to their limits with details of grotesque dolphins, floral sprays, waves of acanthus that cascade amongst the playful cherubs. Rising from grand triform altar bases, doves sing in celebration of the love of the banquet. Ten scrolling and spirally torch lights sit aloft, chased, and decorated with pierced castings, cleverly canter-levered in the design as they weigh and extraordinary fifty-nine kilogrammes.

DESCRIPTION PROVENANCE SILVERSMITH BIOGRAPHY

James Mayer de Rothschild (born Jakob Mayer Rothschild; 15 May 1792 – 15 November 1868) was a French banker and the founder of the French branch of the prominent Rothschild family. He was born in the Free City of Frankfurt in the Holy Roman Empire and elevated to Barony in 1822.
Rothschild was born in the Frankfurt am Main, then part of the Holy Roman Empire. He was the fifth son and youngest child of Mayer Amschel Rothschild and his wife, Guttle Schnapper.

Collection Baron James de Rothschild
Pierre Berge January 2006
Koopman Rare Art
UK Private Collection
Koopman Rare Art

Paris 1883, p.63)
Wonderful example of the Romantic craftsmanship by Froment–Meurice (1801-1855). This silversmith proves his ability in realising pieces inspired from the different styles of the past, such as the neo-gothic toilette set for the Duchess of Parma, or the unusual ‘Coupe des Vendanges’, in Renaissance style.
Froment-Meurice was very well known, especially in the intellectual circles. Balzac calls him ‘mon Benvenuto’, Victor Hugo dedicated a poem to him in his ‘Contemplations’: ‘Ne dis pas: Mon art n’est rien, sors de la route tracée, Ouvrier magicien, Et mêle l’or à la pensée.’ He is a friend of Théophile Gautier, who describes him as a director of an orchestra of artists, sculptors, chisellers, gilders, enamellers and jewellers.