Pair Of Gilt Bronze Candlesticks With Insects – Versailles Model, Circa 1835

Louis-Philippe Period, France, circa 1835.
A beautiful pair of finely chased and gilt bronze candlesticks featuring an elaborate Rococo design populated with insects, after a documented model supplied for the refurnishing of the Palace of Versailles in 1835, during the reign of King Louis-Philippe.
Each candlestick stands on an imposing trefoil-shaped base with an intricately shaped outline, richly decorated with scrolling foliage, shells, floral bouquets, and ornamental motifs. The various reserves, framed by delicate moldings and beaded borders, feature finely matted backgrounds against which numerous insects emerge in high relief.
Butterflies with outstretched wings, bees, beetles, and other winged insects form a particularly unusual and captivating decorative ensemble. Their remarkably detailed execution demonstrates the exceptional quality of the chasing, with carefully rendered wing veins, striated wing cases, segmented bodies, antennae, and delicate legs. Some insects appear almost entirely detached from the background, creating striking effects of depth and relief.
The bases are further embellished with deeply sculpted foliage, shells, and floral arrangements, their finely modeled petals and buds contributing to the richness of the composition.
The asymmetrical baluster-shaped stems display bold Rococo scrolls, intertwined foliage, and shell motifs, rising to elegantly flared candle sockets adorned with leaves and flowing ornamentation.
The overall design draws upon the ornamental vocabulary of eighteenth-century French Rococo, particularly the creations of Juste-Aurèle Meissonnier and the Slodtz brothers, whose designs greatly influenced nineteenth-century bronze makers.
A Historic Model Supplied to the Palace of Versailles in 1835
This model is documented among the furnishings commissioned for the Palace of Versailles during the reign of King Louis-Philippe.
In her reference work De bronze et de cristal, Marie-France Dupuy-Baylet reproduces an archival invoice dated January 26, 1835, relating to a delivery of bronzes by the firm Maury fils, Combes et Compagnie.
The document specifically mentions:
“3 paires de flambeaux dorés or moulu genre rocaille pieds ornés de papillons…”
(Three pairs of fire-gilt Rococo-style candlesticks with bases decorated with butterflies.)
Corresponding examples are preserved in the French National Furniture Collection (Mobilier national), under inventory numbers GML 363/1 and GML 363/2.
These candlesticks were sent to the Palace of Versailles in March 1835. By 1840, inventories recorded their presence in the Bedroom of Louis XV and the Clock Room (Salon des Pendules).
This model beautifully illustrates the revival of eighteenth-century French decorative arts under the July Monarchy, when elaborate Rococo compositions once again became fashionable in the interiors of royal residences.
Condition and Marks
Both candlesticks retain their old gilding, showing considerable wear throughout, with the natural color of the bronze visible in places. This wear has created a richly nuanced patina while preserving the remarkable quality and definition of the finely chased decoration.
Each candlestick bears the same incised mark beneath its base, consisting of two characters possibly reading “F C.” The significance of these marks has yet to be established.
An attractive pair of Louis-Philippe period candlesticks, distinguished by their harmonious proportions, exceptionally detailed insect decoration, and close association with a historically documented model supplied for the Palace of Versailles.
Literature:
Marie-France Dupuy-Baylet, De bronze et de cristal, 2020, pp. 434–435, catalogue no. 262.
Dimensions:
Height: 28 cm (11 in.)Base diameter: 17.5 cm (6.9 in.)
France, Louis-Philippe period, circa 1835.