A set of twelve Royal German silver candlesticks, Christian Heinrich Ingermann, Dresden, 1745/46

Augustus III, King of Poland and Elector of Saxony (1696-1763), thence by decent (recorded in the Royal inventories until 1882),

probably sold by the Saxon Royal (Wettins) family after 1918,

Candlesticks nos. 46 and 48: Christie's, New York, Property of a West Coast Collector, 17 April 1996, lot 41,

Candlestick nos. 40, 51, 57 and 58: Sotheby's, Zurich, The distinguished collection of a lady, 9 December 1997, lot 328,

Candlesticks nos. 45 and 47: Christie's, New York, The personal property of Marilyn Monroe, 20 October 1999, lot 123

Candlesticks 85, 86, 95 and 97: Private German collection

M. Cassidy-Geiger (ed.); Fragile Diplomacy, Meissen Porcelain for European Courts; Yale University Press; 2008

F. August O'Bryn; Die Hof-Silberkammer und Die Hof-Kellerei Zu Dresden (1880); Kessinger Publishing; 2010;

U. Arnold; Staatliche Kunstammlungen Dresden Grünes Gewölbe, Dresden Hofsilber des 18. Jahrhunderts,

Kultur Stiftung der Länder Bundesrepublik Deutschland Freistaat Sachsen; 1994

Augustus III (1696-1763) King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania and Elector of Saxony (as Frederick Augustus II) was the only legitimate son of Augustus the Strong. As part of his attempts to consolidate his power on the European political stage he arranged strategic marriages for his children. In 1738, his daughter Maria Amalia married Charles VII, King of Naples, later King Charles III of Spain. Nine years later, Augustus's negotiations made 1747 a crucial year for the Wettin family with three further dynastically important marriages: in January, Maria Josepha (1731-1767) was married by proxy to Louis, Dauphin of France (1729-1765), and in June there was a double proxy wedding between Frederick Christian (1722-1763) and Maria Antonia of Bavaria (1724-1780), and between Maria Anna (1728-1797) and Maximilian III Joseph, Elector of Bavaria (1727-1777).

An alliance with France was important to Augustus III as it would help reconcile the two countries torn apart during the Austrian War of Succession (1740-1748). France would also regain her influence in Eastern Europe. A perfect opportunity presented itself in July 1746 when Maria Teresa of Spain (1726-1746), consort of Louis Dauphin of France, died while giving birth to a daughter, their only child. The French general Maurice de Saxe (1696-1750), illegitimate son of Augustus The Strong (the father of Augustus III), actively started the negotiations, with the help of the influential and wealthy banker to the French court, Jean Pâris de Montmartel (1690-1766). In October 1746 the French general wrote to Augustus III, his half-brother:

We have triumphed; the master and his mistress

[Madame de Pompadour] took our side.

Augustus III was thrilled and acknowledged Pâris de Montmartel's help by offering him a splendid porcelain service. The Duc de Richelieu, extraordinary envoy to Dresden on that occasion, officially proposed the union on 7 January 1747 and the religious proxy ceremony followed on 10 January. This occasioned the giving of lavish gifts and festivities honouring the French guests and extolling Saxon craftsmanship. Augustus III commissioned from the celebrated Meissen factory a seated porcelain figure of France and a temple alluding to Versailles and the French royal court. For the first time, porcelain figures replaced sugar sculpture at the dessert course, a concept which would then become extremely fashionable.

Augustus III had also commissioned from the Dresden Court Goldsmith, Christian Heinrich Ingerman, 100 silver table candlesticks specifically described as 'nach französischer Façon mit gewundenen Contouren und Laubwerck' ('according to French form, with winding contours and foliage'). Delivered on 31 December 1746 (just in time for the marriage celebrations), these were serially numbered and ciphered AR3 (for Augustus Rex III), as can be seen on the set numbered 45, 46, 47, 48, 50, 51, 57, 58, 85, 86, 93, and 97.

In order to complete the commission, Augustus III had decided to melt down some older pieces from the Silberkammer. The archives record a delivery of 'old fashioned' silver from previous services on 6 and 7 April 1744, then again further deliveries are recorded on 23 July 1745, November 1745, and in March and April 1746. According to O’Bryn, the total commission probably cost more than 12,750 Rechnungsthaler.

Following a resolution of ownership, the contents of the Saxon Silberkammer became the personal property of the Wettin family after 1918 and subsequently some pieces were sold. Unfortunately, the inventory of 1882-1932 only remains for the gold and gilded silver objects whereas the section in which the silver should be recorded is missing from the Hauptstaatsarchiv, Dresden. Marc Rosenberg, however, records several pieces by this maker including a set of 36 candlesticks remaining in Dresden in 1923. A number of pieces have subsequently been repurchased by the trustees of the Green Vault. The current group is believed to be the largest in private hands.