Gilded Bronze Torch With Three Dolphins – Restauration Period, Circa 1820–1830

Gilded bronze torch with three dolphins
Restauration period, circa 1820–1830
Height: 30.5 cm
Base: 14 x 14 cm
Weight: 1,470 g

Three dolphins stand upright, their tails knotted and fins spread, supporting the column all by themselves. This motif, which dates back to Antiquity and was revived in the 19th century, lends this torch a slightly nautical elegance—an unexpected touch on a mantelpiece.

The base thus consists of three dolphins facing each other, their heads resting on the ledge, their bodies upright, and their tails twisted together. The scales are individually chiseled, the fins are distinct, and the eye is marked by a raised button: the workmanship is delicate and stands up to close scrutiny.

From this twisted design emerges a flared base shaped like water leaves, supporting a smooth, tapered shaft. A finely knurled ring marks its top, followed by the spout, shaped like a floral bud, adorned with a row of palmettes and a row of pearls. The removable bowl is decorated with radiating godrons.

The entire piece rests on a triangular base with concave sides, edged by a frieze of stylized leaves, which in turn sits on a molded plinth with stepped sections.

The underside has retained its original ballast: a block of oak embedded in the base, held in place by three screwed-on brass brackets. This was the standard construction method of the period, and it is always good news to find it intact.

Period and Attribution
The design of the base with its concave sides, the smooth, tapered column, and the palmette-decorated finial date this object to the 1820s–1830s, during the Restauration. The dolphin, an ancient ornament, was doubly fashionable at the time: it was also the emblem of the Dauphin of France.

The torch is unsigned, as is the case with the vast majority of decorative bronzes from this period. It is a high-quality Parisian piece, though no specific workshop can be identified.

Condition
Excellent condition. Very slight wear to the gilding. Original oak base.

Important: This torch is sold individually. It does not have a matching pair. Placed on its own on a desk, console table, or mantelpiece, it works very well as a standalone piece.

Item available for viewing and pickup at the gallery (07240)
Shipping: Please contact us for shipping costs within France and internationally.