Pair of French Ormolu and Bleu Turquin Marble Candelabra, Monbro Frères
A pair of Louis XVI style ormolu and bleu turquin marble five-light candelabra, Paris, third quarter of the 19th century. Measures: 31" high x 15" wide x 6" deep Georges-Alphonse-Bonifacio Monbro, called Monbro Aine´ 1807-1884. Both cast mounts have been removed to reveal the mark MONBRO from the bronze master model. The firm of Monbro was established by Georges-Marie Monbro (1774-1841), who was born in Malta and lived for some time in England before returning to France around 1801. Most pieces are the work of Monbro's son (1807-1884), also called Georges, who usually stamped Monbro or Monbro Aine´. There is a group of furniture preserved in the Bowes Museum at Barnard Castle which was purchased directly from Paris by John Bowes himself between 1854 and 1856. Perhaps because of this contact and the father's connection with England, a shop was established at 2 Frith St. in London in 1870 as well as on their premises in Paris. Madame la Duchesse de Berry was one of his distinguished French clients. He received several Royal commissions, and exhibited at both the Exposition des produits de l'industrie franc¸aise in 1844 and the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1855.
