Pair Of Candlesticks - Gilded Bronze - Empire Style - Claude Galle - France - 19th Century

Pair of chiseled and gilded bronze candlesticks, attributed to Claude Galle, Empire period

An important pair of finely chiseled bronze candlesticks gilded with mercury, attributed to the famous bronze artist Claude Galle (1759–1815), made during the Empire period, circa 1805–1810.

These elegant candelabra rest on a circular, stepped base richly decorated with friezes of palmettes and geometric motifs. The conical shaft, decorated with a lattice pattern, is surmounted by a remarkable sculpted group depicting three women’s heads leaning against one another, inspired by antiquity, with abundant, finely chiseled hair. The candlestick head, decorated with gadroons and a Greek frieze, supports a wide cup also adorned with a beaded frieze.

The set demonstrates high-quality engraving and harmonious proportions, characteristics of the work produced by the finest Parisian bronze artisans during the First Empire. The decorative vocabulary borrowed from antiquity, as well as the finesse of the craftsmanship, allow this pair to be associated with models attributed to Claude Galle, supplier to the Imperial Court and numerous princely residences.

Beautiful original gilding with a warm patina and slight signs of wear consistent with its age.

Period: First Empire, circa 1805–1810.
Attribution: Claude Galle (1759–1815).
Material: Chiseled bronze gilded with mercury.
Condition: Very good condition, with normal wear on the gilding and no apparent major restoration.

A refined pair, representative of the excellence of Parisian bronze work during the First Empire, intended to enhance a collection or a high-quality interior.