Peter Taylor

A Rare Pair of George II Rococo Candlesticks

Made in London in 1751

Maker's Mark of Peter Taylor

Height: 11in (28.5cm)

Total Combined Weight: 51oz (1,586gr)

This is an incredible pair of George II rococo candlesticks. They were made to the very highest quality weighing over 25oz per candlesticks and they have survived in the most incredible condition with all the raised decoration remaining very crisp.

Whilst these candlesticks are beautiful candlesticks in their own right there is more to them than first meets the eye. These candlestick are contemporary copies of one of the most celebrated and well known French candlesticks designs. They were originally made circa 1746 by Louis Lenhendrick. Louis Lenhendrick, one of the most important Parisian silversmiths of the 18th century, became a master on 17 May 1747. He was endorsed by Thomas Germain, himself known as 'the king of silversmiths and the silversmith of kings', to whom Lenhendrick had been apprenticed since 1738.

A drawing of this candlestick can be seen the Hermitage collections, St Petersburg, formerly in the Beurdeley and Baron Stieglitz collections; it is illustrated in Christiane Perrin, François-Thomas Germain, roi des Orfèvres, 1993, p. 154. This sophisticated pattern was likely elaborated by Lenhendrick, possibly under Germain's supervision. It was produced by the younger silversmith for more than two decades, reflecting its continuing popularity. A “flambeau Lehendrick” was among the models listed in the workshop of François-Thomas Germain in 1765, showing his strong association with what was probably this design.

These candlesticks by Peter Taylor were almost certainly made to enlarge a set by Lenhendrick. Any other reason seems implausible. Whoever these were made for would have probably gone to Paris in the late 1740s and purchased a set from Lenhendrick and then returned to England. Then at some point they must have wanted to increase the size of the set and therefore rather than returning to Paris they enlisted Peter Taylor to make exact copies.

Overall these are incredible candlesticks made to the very highest quality and are one of the most iconic designs of the 18th century.