~ C1880 Pair Of French Spelter George Clemenceau & Raymond Poincaré Caricature ~
These candlesticks, dated to circa 1880, were made to mimic political, literary and ecclesiastical figures of the time.
The figurine with the moustache is George Clemenceau, a French statesman who led the nation in the First World War
The figurine with the umbrella is Raymond Poincaré, 10th President of the French republic.
One figure sports a well plumed knights helmet, large moustache & long boots. His stomach is slightly protruding as he holds a sword to the front of himself. The second figure sports an equally well plumed hat, has large eyebrows, moustache and chin beard, has a large shield & rests on a umbrella.
Both candlesticks are attached to a black lacquered wooden base with a felt underside.
~ Georges Benjamin Clemenceau ~
28 September 1841 – 24 November 1929) was a French statesman who led the nation in the First World War. A leader of the Radical Party, he played a central role in politics during the Third Republic. Clemenceau served as the Prime Minister of France from 1906 to 1909, and again from 1917 to 1920. He was one of the principal architects of the Treaty of Versailles at the France Peace Conference of 1919. Nicknamed “Père la Victoire” (Father Victory) or “Le Tigre” (The Tiger), he took a harsh position against defeated Germany, though not quite as much as President Poincaré, and won agreement on Germany’s payment of large sums for reparations.
~ Raymond Poincaré ~
Raymond Poincaré (French pronunciation: [ʁɛmɔ̃ pwɛ̃kaʁe]; 20 August 1860 – 15 October 1934) was a French statesman who served three times as Prime Minister, and as President from 1913 to 1920. He was a conservative leader, primarily committed to political and social stability.
Trained in law, Poincaré was elected a Deputy in 1887, and served in the cabinets of Dupuy and Ribot. In 1902, he co-founded the Democratic Republican Alliance, the most important center-right party under the Third Republic, becoming Prime Minister in 1912 and President in 1913. He was noted for his strongly anti-German attitudes, and twice visited Russia to maintain strategic ties. At the Paris Peace Conference, he favoured re-occupation of the Rhineland, which he was able to carry out in 1923 as Prime Minister.
~ Dimensions ~
The sword figure has a height of 14 inches (35.6 cm), a base diameter of 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) & weighs 1.79 kg. The umbrella figure has a height of 13.5 inches (34.3 cm), a base diameter of 6.2 inches (15.7 cm) & weighs 1.76 kg.
The set weighs 3.55 kg.
~ Condition ~
The candlesticks are in excellent antique order and complete.
The bases have a small amount of wear, including a small chip to one of the edges.