Auguste Moreau and Ferdinand Barbedienne A large pair of Napoléon III gilt and patinated bronze figural torchères Paris, circa 1875-80

the large acanthus scrolled paw feet pedestals set with rouge griotte marble oval medallions, each female figure signed Aug. Moreau, each base signed F. BARBEDIENNE. FONDEUR.

Each lacking candle lights, originally affixed to the urns supported by the female figures; the patinated bronze figures with scratches and wear to rich brown patina, mostly to high relief detail of drapery, breasts, noses and arms; the gilt-bronze with its original color and condition; each urn pierced for wiring; dirt and wear to pedestals; the original two-tone burnishing to the gilding is still visible mostly to banding details of pedestals; obvious small scratches, wear and dent to paw feet consistent with age.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Auguste Moreau (1834-1917) was part of a great dynasty of sculptors.  Together with his older brothers Mathurin and Hyppolyte-François, he was taught by his father Jean-Baptiste and studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He had two sons, also sculptors, Louis-Auguste and Hyppolyte.

Ferdinand Barbedienne (1810-1892) began his career as a prominent vendor of wall paper in Paris in 1833.  He bought many small bronzes from antiquity dealers to be used as weights to show wall paper samples.  His clients soon began to buy these bronzes as well as the wall paper, which began Barbedienne's career as a bronzier.  He began the Parisian bronze foundry in 1839, and quickly became one of the most active and distinguished French bronziers of the late 19th century. He partnered with Achille Collas and began producing bronze réduction and editions.  After the partnership ended, he began purchasing the rights to reproduce models from the most successful contemporary French artists of the time such as Rude, Clésinger, Rodin and Moreau. The firm also produced decorative objects in styles reflecting the various exotic and revival trends popular at the time. The design of these objects was often overseen by Louis-Constant Sévin, favored sculptor and designer of the Barbedienne workshop, who collaborated with Barbedienne from 1855 for a period of thirty-three years. After Barbedienne's death the business was taken over by his nephew, Leblanc-Barbedienne, and continued until 1953.

The present lot, with imposing scale and charming and fluid design could have originated from a private or even public commission to decorate an entrance hall flanking a stairway of a Parisian Hotel Particulier or theater.