Details
Description
An exuberant 19th-century Italian Rococo-style silver-leaf altar candelabra, richly carved in wood with the lively movement and theatricality collectors prize. …
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An exuberant 19th-century Italian Rococo-style silver-leaf altar candelabra, richly carved in wood with the lively movement and theatricality collectors prize. The scrolling façade unfolds in a rhythmic play of S-curves and C-scrolls, pierced and open so that light passes through the design rather than weighing it down. Winged putti anchor the composition, their outstretched arms and tender faces emerging from a profusion of acanthus, flowers, and volutes, giving the piece a joyous, almost musical quality that recalls the most ornate Italian chapels.
Unlike the heavier architectural language of the Baroque, this candelabra feels light, fluid, and playful, its ornament spilling out horizontally across the altar rather than rising in strict verticals or broken pediments. The carving is crisp and confident, with deep undercutting and refined details that speak to a highly trained ecclesiastical workshop. Silver leaf amplifies every curve, catching candlelight the way original church furnishings were meant to shimmer during feast days and high ceremonies.
Created in the 19th century, when Italy was embracing a wave of historic revival styles, this work channels the taste for Baroque and Rococo splendor that captivated patrons decorating grand townhouses, villas, and private chapels. Collectors of Italian decorative arts and religious objects will recognize its roots in earlier 18th-century church carving, while interior designers will appreciate its scale and presence as a dramatic Rococo revival altar candelabra and statement table centerpiece for a console, credenza, dining table, or mantel. At once devotional and decorative, it brings the atmosphere of an old Italian sacristy or theater into a contemporary interior, bridging history, craftsmanship, and high style.
Dimensions: H=23 in. W=70 in. D=10.25 in. 25 lbs.
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- Dimensions
- 70ʺW × 10.25ʺD × 23ʺH
- Styles
- Rococo
- Period
- Late 19th Century
- Country of Origin
- Italy
- Item Type
- Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned
- Materials
- Gesso
- Silver Leaf
- Wood
- Condition
- Good Condition, Restored, Some Imperfections
- Color
- Silver
- Condition Notes
- Good condition with age‑appropriate wear, losses, and restorations. The front retains most of its silver leaf, with inconspicuous areas of … moreGood condition with age‑appropriate wear, losses, and restorations. The front retains most of its silver leaf, with inconspicuous areas of loss and one slightly larger but still minor area of exposed ground. The surface shows localized discoloration and rubbing, particularly near the lower front edge, consistent with handling and use. The reverse is finished in a later silver paint, and a clear transition line is visible where the original silver leaf ends and the later paint begins. There is evidence of prior repairs to the back, including visible glue residue and added reinforcement elements to stabilize the structure; these are typical historic or later interventions and appear sound. Small separations and hairline openings in the carving and base are present throughout and are considered normal for hand‑carved wood and gessoed ecclesiastical pieces of this age. The lower board exhibits a stable crack/fracture but remains structurally sound. Later silver paint is also present on the metal candleholders. Unsigned; any inscription or signature visible is unknown and is not attributed to a specific maker. less
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