Style Other / Ref.15416

Russian Silversmith, Pair of Silver Candlesticks, circa 1832-1850

This pair of Russian candlesticks was crafted by a Saint Petersburg silversmith between approximately 1832 and 1850. Although the silversmith’s mark, a “PS” in Cyrillic, is not listed, the two assayers responsible for verifying the quality and purity of precious metals, Alexander Mor (active between 1831 and 1854) and Dmitry Tvyersko (active between 1832 and 1850), help date the objects. The date stamp being erased makes it impossible to refine the dating further.

The two candlesticks are made of 84 zolotniks silver, meaning 875/1000 fineness. Their decor, in a Nordic style, is stylized. The circular base is adorned with a frieze of pearls topped by four small winged mythical creatures. Between each, geometric interlacing leads to a single foot. This baluster-shaped foot is decorated with battles of aquatic monsters, some resembling stylized crocodiles. The two arms of light support nozzles adorned with openwork interlacing and delicately chiseled ivy leaves. They appear to be gathered by a central peak.

These candlesticks are almost identical to those accompanying the Persian clock designed by Adolphe-Victor Geoffroy-Dechaume for the Delafontaine house in 1851-1852. The candlesticks are indeed present in an old photograph of the complete set by Charles Marville: the clock is accompanied by two candlesticks very similar to ours and two cups; the few variations present are not found in all editions of this set.

The similarity between the two pairs of candlesticks suggests that the Russian silversmith was strongly inspired by Geoffroy-Dechaume’s work, to the point of reproducing it almost identically, unless the reverse was true; the difficulties posed by dating the objects make it impossible to remove the doubt. However, the fineness of the chiseling of the silver candlesticks remains superior to the ornamentation of some of those produced from the design of the French silversmith.