A pair of candelabra from an original set of six pieces, in early neoclassical style, in Poland known as a la grec. The candelabra rest on lion’s paw feet decorated with three superbly chiselled eagles which undoubtedly allude to the Polish national emblem. The entire piece is crowned with a candle holder. The designs by the renowned French architect Victor Louis for the redecoration of the Castle’s interiors, dating from 1765–6, which are preserved in the Print Room of the Warsaw University Library, show that the candelabra were designed for the King’s Bedchamber. They were to be placed on the mantelpieces of two corner fireplaces and on the console table on both sides of a rotating clock, against a background of mirrors. The latter arrangement—the table with the candelabra and clock—are shown in a detailed drawing by Louis’s co-worker, Jean Louis Prieur. Another preserved drawing of his shows a single candelabrum. This gifted sculptor and decorator, as well as bronze caster and chiseller, must not only have crafted, but also designed the candelabra. Although Stanisław August had to abandon the costly renovation project due to financial problems relating to the events surrounding the Bar Confederation and, above all, the first partition of Poland, some of the commissioned objects had been made and were consecutively brought to Warsaw. Six candelabra were already in the Royal Castle in 1769 as is evident from the Castle’s inventory drawn up in that year. They had not been gilded, probably at the King’s request, and it was only in 1786 that one pair was gilded by Tobias Hoffstedter. The candelabra were placed on three legged gilded wooden tables (guéridons) and stood in the Throne Room—which had been designed by Varsovian, and not Parisian, architects.
The four remaining candelabra were stored at the Castle and were never used as decorative objects during the King’s lifetime. One pair, presumably part of the stored set, is currently housed at the Detroit Institute of Arts; the other, purchased between 1932–5 as originating from a Russian palace, is at the Cleveland Museum of Art.