Distinguished by their prestigious provenance, the present Paire de Candélabres once formed part of the esteemed collection of Prince and Princess Sadruddin Aga Khan. Exquisitely crafted from gilt bronze and copper, each piece is composed of delicate leafy sprigs, elegantly arranged to support seven candles. When illuminated, the flickering light dances across the varying metal tones, enhancing the organic dynamism of the composition and invigorating its inherently vegetal structure.

Claude Lalanne’s mastery of form and material is exemplified in these works, where nature is both the subject and the medium. Her use of botanical motifs and the electrotyping technique known as galvanoplasty were central to her artistic practice, allowing her to transform fragile organic elements into enduring sculptural forms. The American artist Jimmy Metcalf introduced her to this process early in her career while she and her husband, François-Xavier Lalanne, resided in the vibrant artist enclave of Impasse Ronsin in Montparnasse.

Through tireless experimentation, Claude refined her approach, immersing leaves, branches, and flowers in chemical baths to capture their precise textures in metal. This meticulous process enabled her to preserve the fleeting beauty of nature, elevating ephemeral forms into timeless objets d’art. The present candelabra are a striking testament to her technical innovation and poetic vision - wherein art and nature exist in perfect harmony.