THE PALFFY CANDELABRA

A set of four Louis XVI ormolu triple light candelabra.
Note: The candelabra retain their original mercury gilding.
The Palffy family is one of the old aristocratic Austro-Hungarian dynasties. From influential positions in the army and in government, and their support of music and the visual arts, they shaped the politics and culture of both Hungary and Austria in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The Palais Palffy, the family’s residence in the heart of Vienna, was used for many cultural events. The family befriended many famous artists, including Mozart and Beethoven. In 1786 Mozart presented the first performance of his opera The Marriage of Figaro to a private audience at the palace. At the time, the libretto was so controversial that it sparked violent working-class protests in Paris, already in the grip of pre-revolution tension. The French queen Marie Antoinette, sister of the Austrian Emperor Joseph II, wrote to her brother about the troubles, which led to the Emperor banning the original libretto. After changes were made, The Marriage of Figaro became a huge success.