A Fine French Empire gilt bronze and or Ormolu and Patinated
Bronze Figural Blackamoor Single Candlestick. French Empire, circa:
1805-1810. Measuring: A Full 12" high.
This Large and Rare
Candlestick Depicts that of a Blackamoor Or Nubian King with
Feather Headdress. Very Fine Casting with Stunning Original Gilding
still in tact. The Patinated Bronze Figure shows dark patination as well
as traces of old black lacquer which was often done to darken the
figures even further. The Blackammor Holds upright a Gilded stem
with Candle cup at top.
The Bronze Work is very Possibly
Attributed to Jean-Simon
Deverberie(1764-1824).
Drawings and Art works by Deverberie
are in the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris. The
Design of this Candlestick with the present figure reflects the late
18th century interest in 'le bon savage' encouraged by the idyllic
representations of Bernadin de Saint-Pierre and de Chateaubriand,
and the abolition of slavery by the
convention in 1793. The first of French Clocks, Candelabra and
Candlesticks of this style appears to have been 'la negresse' delivered
by
Furet and Gaudon to Marie Antionette in 1784. A Version in the
example of a clock which, possibly purchased by the Prince of
Whales in 1790, is included in the current exhibition at the Queen's
Gallery, Buckingham Palace. Interest in
'La bon savage' was maintained throughout the Empire period
despite Napoleon's reintroduction of slavery in 1802.
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