Rare Pair Of Empire Candlesticks In The Shape Of Ewers - Circa 1810

A finely cast pair of Empire candlesticks, conceived in the form of stylised ewers and executed in gilt and patinated bronze. Dating to around 1810, they reflect the neoclassical taste of the period, drawing inspiration from antiquity. Each amphora-shaped candleholder features a flared lip and a scrolled handle issuing from an eagle mask, an imperial emblem frequently employed in early 19th-century French design. The spouts are adorned with applied shell decoration, while the bodies are enriched with classical friezes.

The ewer-shaped candlesticks are raised on tapering square pedestals, applied with ornaments of flaming torches and quivers filled with arrows, symbols of love traditionally associated with Eros. The candlesticks are set on stepped rectangular plinths. The contrast between the gilt and dark patinated bronze enhances the character of the design, suggesting they were conceived as decorative objects as much as functional sources of light. This model is consistent with the stylistic vocabulary of the Empire period, firmly rooted in classical antiquity.

The pair remains in excellent condition, retaining its original mercury gilding.


Origin: France, Empire period circa 1810.

Dimensions: Height 29 cm (11.4″), Width 8.5 cm (3.3″). Base diameter: 7.5 cm (3″).