Empire Gilded Bronze Candleholders, Set of 2

Details

Description

A pair of French Empire gilded bronze candelabra from the early 19th century, ormolu candelabra with cherubs, four flames, in … Read more A pair of French Empire gilded bronze candelabra from the early 19th century, ormolu candelabra with cherubs, four flames, in good condition.

A circular slab pedestal decorated with palm trees rests on a stepped square base; the quality of the chiseled finish is so high that the welding is impossible to see! Leaf-shaped cast joints support a sphere, a globe on which a winged angel rests on tiptoe, a perfectly anatomical cherub with masterfully chiseled curls and wing plumage.

In their raised hands, the cherubs hold the main torch of the four-flame candelabra, decorated with leaf motifs, palmettes, and floral elements.

The entire cast piece is beautifully gilded with mercury amalgam, and plays on the contrast between the matte parts and the polished, burnished agate parts. 4 mm holes were drilled into the beige candlesticks and the wax-draining plates for the passage of electrical wires. Two minor losses consistent with the dating are present: the candlestick with the raised right hand shows signs of old restorations near the garland and is missing the tip of a leaf in the central light and the index finger of the angel's left hand.

The candlesticks have been cleaned (as shown in the photo); to perform this operation, they were completely disassembled. Each is composed of 38 hand-crafted pieces, and the initials MB, likely the initials of the master craftsman, are stamped under the globe base.

They come from a private collection in a villa on Lake Como.

The base measures 13 x 13 centimeters. See less