A Pair Of Candelabra In Empire Style

Royal Antique is proud to offer this magnificent pair of 19th-century decorative pieces, perfectly embodying the refined elegance and imperial grandeur of the French Empire style. These exceptional objects, functioning as either highly decorative candelabra or elaborate incense burners (known as brûle-parfums), showcase meticulous attention to detail and superb craftsmanship, typical of the Napoleonic era.

Design and Materials:

• Classical Urn Form: Each piece features a central lidded urn, masterfully cast in dark patinated bronze, providing a sophisticated contrast to the radiant gilt bronze elements. The lids are surmounted by delicate, flame-like finials, emphasizing their potential dual function.

• Winged Allegorical Figures: The urns are exquisitely adorned with prominent gilt bronze winged figures, likely representing classical deities such as Victories, Fames, or muses. These figures, with their outstretched wings and classical drapery, symbolize grace, triumph, and artistic inspiration, directly reflecting the prevailing neoclassical aesthetic.

• Elegant Tripod Support: The central urn is gracefully supported by three slender, fluted legs of solid gilt bronze, tapering downwards. These legs are connected by a lower gilt bronze stretcher that expands into an ornate tripartite base. This tripod design is a direct reference to classical Roman and Greek antiquity, a hallmark of the Empire style.

• Rich Gilt Bronze Adornments: The entire composition is lavishly embellished with intricate gilt bronze motifs, including meticulously chased laurel wreaths, delicate acanthus detailing, and finely cast classical friezes, emphasizing the opulence and precision characteristic of the period's bronziers.

• Triangular Base: The tripod structure culminates in a robust, triangular base, also richly decorated with finely chased gilt bronze elements and resting on subtle classical feet, providing both stability and aesthetic completion.

Period Significance and Craftsmanship:

Dating from the height of the French Empire period (early 19th century, circa 1800-1815), these pieces are quintessential examples of a design movement heavily influenced by classical antiquity and popularized during the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte. They reflect a period when art and design celebrated power, order, and refinement, drawing directly from archaeological discoveries and imperial Roman aesthetics. The unparalleled skill in bronze casting, the meticulous chasing, and the high-quality mercury gilding attest to the superlative artistry of Parisian workshops that supplied the imperial court and discerning collectors.

This exquisite pair of Empire period tripod candelabra/incense burners is not merely decorative; they are significant works of art that embody the artistic ambition and imperial splendor of early 19th-century France, representing an invaluable acquisition for any serious collector.