Antique French Bronze and Marble Egyptian Revival Ibis Candelabras, 19th Century

Details

Description

Inspired by Napoleon’s late-18th-century expedition to the Middle East, French artisans and menuisiers began incorporating motifs from antiquity into their … Read more Inspired by Napoleon’s late-18th-century expedition to the Middle East, French artisans and menuisiers began incorporating motifs from antiquity into their creations. This pair of 19th-century bronze and marble candelabras perfectly epitomizes the resulting ‘Egyptian Revival’ style, seamlessly marrying masterful French craftsmanship with ancient aesthetics.

Perhaps the most prominent Egyptian theme is the two golden ibis (symbolizing wisdom and communication) facing outwards that support the leaf cup bobeches. One cup rests on top of each creature’s head, while a third candle holder is positioned moderately above, between the birds’ wings. An ankh, which translates to “life”, hangs beneath the center bobeche, while each bird also clutches another Egyptian cross in one of its talons. The other claw perches on the rim of a tall urn with rosette-centric handles and a cluster of palmettes emerging from the interior. Geometric motifs and foliage further embellish the urn, which stands atop a classical plinth set on a pyramid-shaped base of black marble. The stone has been incised with golden pseudo-hieroglyphics and thin cartouche borders. A golden cobra, known as Uræus, with a floret on its head, hugs each side of the marble, rising to flank the urn’s plinth. Uræus was reserved for Egyptian royalty, with the pharaohs wearing an image of the snake on their heads as a rite of protection. Initially intended to serve as illumination in a formal French room, our pair of Egyptian Revival candelabras would make beautiful and luxurious centerpieces in any room of the house. See less