Pair Of Louis XVI Period Gilt Bronze Candlesticks - Directoire Period

A lovely pair of mercury-gilt bronze candlesticks, made at the end of the 18th century, at the transition between the Louis XVI and Directoire styles. These candlesticks are distinguished by their understated, architectural design, characteristic of the Neoclassical taste, which favors clean lines and harmonious proportions. They rest on a stepped, quadrangular base, supporting a slender stem with vertical fluting, directly inspired by antique columns, and terminating in a simply molded socket. The whole presents an elegant and balanced silhouette, with a great decorative restraint, typical of Parisian production from the end of the Ancien Régime. The original mercury gilding offers a beautiful warm and luminous tone. It shows signs of wear and rubbing consistent with age and use, perfectly in keeping with the period of creation, without detracting from the overall appearance or elegance. The overall condition is good. Standing 20.5 cm tall, this pair of candlesticks makes a refined decorative set, ideal for a fireplace, console or table, and a fine illustration of late 18th-century French neoclassicism.