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silla was born out of a passion for beautiful objects: special pieces with aesthetic and historical significance. In 2009, after years of collecting, Andrew Silla and his wife Grace began to work privately with clients from their residence in Southern Maryland. Quickly outgrowing the space, the business was moved from Maryland to Pennsylvania in 2012 and after several warehouse location changes it was firmly settled in the present brick-and-mortar location in downtown Shippensburg.

The 9000 square foot brick-and-mortar gallery is home to a large collection of works of art and estate jewelry. We specialize in sculpture circa 1860 through 1930 with a particular emphasis on the Animaliers and as such the gallery always has a very large collection of exceptional European and American sculpture available on display.

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Pair of Candelabra with Birds' Nests | Auguste Nicolas Cain

Cain, August Nicholas

SKU:
001UGP28W

This item is sold. Please email sales@sillafineantiques.com to be notified when similar items become available. Our gallery is very active in hunting down unique pieces and we will almost certainly be able to find something special for your collection.

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catalog text

RARE PAIR OF THREE-LIGHT PATINATED BRONZE CANDELABRA BY AUGUSTE NICOLAS CAIN (FRENCH, 1822-1894)
Birds' nests, with chicks being fed a worm in one by the mother, visited by a curious field mouse in the other; each signed CAIN
Item # 001UGP28W 

Noted in the Mene and Cain catalogue as "No. 78 Candélabre nid de fauvettes, Hauteur 0.50" (Cadet), this rare and extremely fine pair of candelabra are a beautiful picture of naturalism. They depict two visitors to a nest of newly hatched chicks: a mother offering a worm in mouth to the hungry mouths and in the second a curious field mouse, likely disappointed by the absence of fresh eggs.

Thin reeds raise the three candle wells like flowers blossoming, the nest hung between them from twists of vines wrapped around them with grasses, branches, feathers and vines intermingled to build out the nests within which three chicks reach with open beaks. A single leafy shoot drapes from each reed as well as another long leaf draped from the edge of the nest, the reeds raised over a rounded base with relief of vines, foliage and scattered berries footed on three snails. Each is signed CAIN in the base. They are finished in a fine black and brown patination.

Literature & Further Reading:

  • Susse Frères: 150 Years of Sculpture, Pierre Cadet, 1992, p. 237, no. 78


Measurements: 19 5/8" H x 7" W x 7" D

Condition Report:
Minor traces of patina wear. Original patina. An exceptional presentation.