lustre French, circa 1890

The inspiration for this chandelier may be the work of the celebrated bronzier Francois Rémond, whose main client was the marchand-mercier Dominique Daguèrre. A chandelier of same design from the château de Mereville, sold, Christie's, Monaco, December 4, 1993, lot 40, from the collection of Hubert de Givenchy.

François Rémond was born in 1747 and was elected maître in 1774. He mainly supplied the marchand-mercier Dominique Daguèrre, although he was also employed by ébénistes such as Jean-Henri Riesener and David Roentgen two of the most celebrated makers of the second half of the 18th century. He had also many private clients including Marie-Antoinette, the comte d'Artois and the duc de Penthièvre.

Dominique Daguèrre inherited Poirier's workshop, supplying mainly objects de luxe to the French court, and continuing after the French Revolution, in particular selling to the English nobility. Based in the rue St. Honoré, in 1786 he signed an exclusive agreement to sell Wedgwood's jasperware in Paris. He opened a shop in Piccadilly in London in 1788.