In finely chiseled gilded bronze. The central body is made in the shape of Nike Canefora resting on a globe surrounded by a cloud of cupids. The arms are designed as cornucopias surrounding a central torch. The rectangular bases are veneered with malachite plating on travertine and slate; their decoration shows a gilded bronze wreath bearing inside the heraldic coat of arms of the double-headed eagle with Saint George killing the Basilisk on its chest (the latter being the symbol of Moscow). This emblem refers to the Romanov family to whom the commission could presumably be traced.
There is a strong assonance with the preparatory drawing by Charles Percier (1746 - 1838) made for the decoration of the boudoir of Josephine Bonaparte (Paris 1802) and with the candelabra in the shape of winged Victories signed by Thomire (Paris 1810) and today preserved at the Matropolitan Museum in New York.
Reference bibliography:
H. Ottomeyer, P. Prรถschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, vol. I, p. 328, pl. 5.2.1;
Ibidem, vol. I, p. 329 tab. 5.2.4;
"Pair of candelabra with Winged Victories,
Pierre Philippe Thomire, ca. 1810โ15", catalogue, Metropolitan Museum of Art, URL: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/195519