Bronze Candleholder: Ferdinand Barbedienne 57 Cm

FERDINAND BARBEDIENNE (1810–1892)
Important candlestick stand / lamp holder in chiseled and gilded bronze
France, Napoleon III period, circa 1860–1880
Signed on the base: “F. BARBEDIENNE”

An elegant and substantial gilded bronze lamp stand, of remarkable quality in casting, chasing, and decoration, signed on the base “F. BARBEDIENNE,” attesting to its production by the famous Parisian firm of Ferdinand Barbedienne.

The piece features a neoclassical-inspired composition, particularly representative of the Second Empire’s taste for ancient forms, plant motifs, and ornaments drawn from the Greco-Roman and Louis XVI decorative repertoires.

The piece rests on a wide, circular, stepped base, richly molded and accented by several decorative registers.
The outer border is adorned with a beaded frieze, alternating with a frieze of stylized leaf and spike motifs, while several concentric moldings harmoniously structure the base.

At the center rises a domed cupola, forming the base of the shaft, entirely adorned with an exceptional relief decoration of foliage scrolls, flowers, fruits, figures, ribbons, and plant motifs, arranged with great symmetry.
The highly pronounced contours of the ornaments attest to the precision of the chiseling and allow one to appreciate the play of light on the gilding.

The central shaft features a skillfully articulated succession of architectural forms—a tapered column, molded bands, beaded friezes, and foliage elements—giving the whole a particularly elegant silhouette.

The central section is one of the most remarkable features of the piece.
It consists of a slightly flared cylindrical body, richly decorated with applied plant motifs, flowers, foliage, and ribbon-like elements.
The upper section is openwork, forming an architectural gallery supported by small ornate mullions, revealing a circular interior shelf.

This particularly refined openwork structure is crowned by a heavily molded circular capital, decorated with friezes of ovals, pearls, and foliage.

Above it sits an elegant gilded bronze vase/urn with a slightly bulging body, embellished with garlands of foliage, flowers, and ribbons, featuring particularly intricate relief ornamentation.
The urn rests on a small pedestal and a carefully molded neck.

The ensemble is crowned by the lamp holder, now electrified and topped with a fabric lampshade.
The electrical system was added at a later date and has been fully refurbished.

The gilding, in a warm gold tone, features an antique patina and surface variations that beautifully highlight the reliefs.
The recessed areas are naturally darker, accentuating the depth of the decoration and the quality of the chiseling.

The signature “F. BARBEDIENNE,” clearly visible on the front of the base, is a particularly interesting feature.
Ferdinand Barbedienne was one of the most important casters, manufacturers, and producers of 19th-century French art bronzes.
His works are distinguished in particular by the excellence of their castings, the precision of their chiseling, and the quality of their finishes.
Light fixtures and candlesticks signed “F. Barbedienne” are now regularly documented in auctions and collections of 19th-century art objects. (Christie’s⁠)

Period: France, Second Empire, circa 1860–1880
Style: Neoclassical / Louis XVI-inspired, in the Napoleon III style
Material: chiseled and gilded bronze
Signature: “F. BARBEDIENNE” on the base
Electrification: later electrical installation, with lampshade
Condition: generally well-preserved, with patina and wear consistent with its age

A piece with a striking decorative presence, remarkable for the richness of its decoration, the quality of its casting and chiseling, as well as its signature from the prestigious Barbedienne workshop.
Our lamp stands 57 cm tall.