A superb pair of Empire gilt bronze candlesticks attributed to Claude Galle, each with an anthemion cast vase-shaped socket supported on a hexagonal stem headed by a band of six stars and terminating in lion paw feet balanced on a sphere upon a circular base ornamented with an acanthus leaf border Paris, date circa 1805 Height 35 cm. each. Literature: Jean-Pierre Samoyault, “Pendules et bronzes d’ameublement entrés sous le Premier Empire; Catalogue des Collections de Mobilier, Musée National du Château de Fontainebleau”, 1989, p. 177, no. 158, pl. 626, illustrating a very similar candlestick by Claude Galle made for the Palais de Fontainebleau. These superb candlesticks can be attributed to the eminent bronzier Claude Galle (1759-1815) on account of their similarity with three pairs of candlesticks by him delivered to Fontainebleau (described by Samoyault, ibid). As here the latter have a band of stars at the head of the stem (but three instead of six) and are supported on the lion paw feet and though they are of similar overall design they have bobeche-shaped sockets, circular tapering stems and slightly different foliate decoration around their base. Those made for Fontainebleau were recorded in the palace’s books in 1804 and 1805, described accordingly “Bon de commande du 28 brumaire an XIII – 19 novembre 1804: ‘deux pairs [flambeaux dorés or mat] à étoiles’”, priced at 152 francs and subsequently “Mémoire du 26 messidor an XIII – 15 juillet 1805: ‘une pair de flambeaux à étoiles, ciselé et doré or mat 84’”. In 1807, two pairs were in the salon of the apartment of the Empress’s lady-in-waiting and then in 1810 in the bedrooms of the pavillon du Tibre. In 1807 a third pair of the same model but of gilt copper and bronze was also recorded as being in the lady-in-waiting’s bedroom. A variation of the model with rosettes instead of stars were also made for Fontainebleau, recorded in 1810 in the salon du concierge in the pavillon du Tibre. Interestingly Galle is also recorded much earlier in August 1799 as having made a pair of ‘flambeaux à étoille’, priced at 30 francs. As one of the leading bronziers of his day and as a supplier to the Garde-Meuble Claude Galle created numerous gilt bronzes for the Royal and subsequently Imperial household. Born at Villepreux near Versailles, Galle moved during his youth to Paris to begin an apprenticeship under the fondeur, Pierre Foy at rue du Four. In 1784 he married Foy’s daughter and after the Foy’s death, took over the workshop and built it up into one the finest of its kind, eventually employing about 400 craftsmen. In 1786 he became a maitre-fondeur and in the same year received the first of many commissions from the Garde-Meuble to furnish the royal palaces. Galle moved the business to Quai de la Monnaie (renamed Quai de 1’Unité) and from 1805 operated from 60 Rue Vivienne. Like many, Galle suffered as a result of the Revolution though the situation dramatically improved when Napoleon came to power and regenerated interest in the arts. During the Consulate Galle was appointed an official supplier to the Garde-Meuble. In addition to the Palais de Fontainebleau he supplied many other palaces especially the Trianons, Tuileries, Compiègne, Rambouillet as well as Monte Cavallo Rome and Stupinigi near Turin. His commissions included numerous light fittings, figural clock cases, vases and other fine bronze furnishings. While some works remain in situ others can be found in the Musée National de Chateau de Malmaison, the Musée Marmottan in Paris, the Museo de Reloges at Jerez de la Frontera, the Residenz Munich and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.