Pair Of Candlesticks. Gilt And Blued Bronze. France, 19th Century.

Pair of candlesticks. Gilt and blued bronze. France, 19th century.
Pair of ten-light candelabra each, composed of a base and arms in gilded bronze and a central figure in burnished bronze. The oval bases have leaf-shaped feet that extend upwards creating curves, a heraldic mirror in the center and a vegetal and architectural decoration in relief of classicist influence. The two half-naked children stand, raising one knee and holding in both hands a horn from which the arms of the candelabra emerge. These are made up of stems with leaves, the burners that end them having rather the shape of flowers, the one in the center being higher than the others. From a stylistic point of view, they present clear rococo influences and are therefore part of the Louis XV style, very widespread in French decorative arts of the 19th century. Other similar examples are known, including one (with a different base, in malachite in this case) from the Napoleon III period in a private French collection, and another pair with fewer lights and the elements only in gilded bronze in another private collection. This situation was common, because the French workshops of the 19th century were distinguished by their quality, largely thanks to the specialization of the crafts: it was common to make figurines, for example, which were used in different clock or candlestick factories.
Weight: 33 kg. - Dimensions: 45x40x84.5 cm