A Pair of Three-light Candelabra, Louis XVI (1774-1791), silver, fluted and relief decoration "Garlands", engraved possession marks with quartered coat of arms: I and IV Walpole; II and III ?, Paris hallmark "F" (1769-1770), Robert-Joseph Auguste maker's mark (1723-c.1805), French, small restoration on the inner part of the central candle guards (bobèches), Notes: 1. This pair of candelabra integrated the "French Art Exhibition, predominantly 18th C. goldsmiths", and they are represented in the correspondent catalogue # 207 and 208. Lisbon: Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, 1934, p. 54 and Est. 64. The Exhibition catalogue identifies the following marks: of the maker; two of the "adjudicataire-géneral", Julien Alaterre (1768-1775); of the Paris goldsmiths decoration (F - 1769-1770) and the review one (female head). The review mark on the serpentines is a "head with helmet ". 2. Similar candelabra are to be found at the Metropolitan Museum of New York City: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/48.187.389ab,.390ab; and at The Getty Centre in Los Angeles: http://www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artObjectDetails?artobj=6688. 3. Robert-Joseph Auguste (1723-ca.-1805) was the most important French goldsmith of the 18th C. (2nd half) and the supplier of several European Royal Houses, among them Sweden, Denmark, Russia, England and Portugal, as well as of important nobility families, such as, the Dukes of Cadaval, in Portugal. Originally belonging to the House of Cadaval, later incorporated in the Collection of Prof. Dr. Juvenal Esteves, a tureen by Auguste was sold in 1997 at Silva's Auction House for € 206,000 establishing a new auction sales record for silverware in Portugal. The present candelabra were part of the Collection of Estevão Pereira Palha van Zeller, and integrated "The French Art Exhibition" held in 1934 at the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, together with other works by Auguste, proceeding from the Royal House as well as from private important collections, among them another pair of candelabra, with different decoration (belonging to Dr. José Gomes Pulido Garcia's Collection, Beja), were shown. The importance of Auguste justifies the presence of his works in the best Museums in the world from the Louvre to the Metropolitan of New York City. Four other candelabra very similar to the ones now put to auction, were sold at Sotheby's in 1993, resulting in the scattering of the Collection of the Earl Harcourt, former Ambassador of George III to France, where they were purchased. There is no knowledge of other candelabra by Auguste in the market after 1993which confirms the importance of the pair now being presented. Dimensões (altura x comprimento x largura) - 40 cm; Peso - 4660 grs.