Pair Of Second Empire Napoleon 3 III Barbedienne Bronze Candlesticks

Pair of Second Empire-period torches by foundryman Ferdinand Barbedienne (1810-1892) and Barbedienne's designer and chief decorator, Henry Cahieux (1825-1854)

These torches feature a tripod base with panther mascarons scrolled with Etruscan-style palmettes. The shaft imitates bamboo. The overall shape of the torches evokes a type of censer that was used by the Etruscans - the thymiaterion.

At the 1855 World's Fair, Barbedienne exhibited large lamp holders on his stand, similar in appearance to this pair of torches. He was awarded the Medal of Honor, and Empress Eugénie commissioned several examples for the Château de Saint-Cloud and the palaces of Compiègne and Fontainebleau.