Set of Four Late 17th Century French Renaissance Brass Altar Candlesticks

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Created for a private French chapel in the late 17th to early 18th century, this rare set of four antique … Read more Created for a private French chapel in the late 17th to early 18th century, this rare set of four antique brass altar candlesticks is an exceptional survival of the Renaissance tradition in ecclesiastical decorative art. Each candlestick rests upon a boldly sculpted tripartite base terminating in traditional ball and claw feet, a motif long associated with Renaissance design and its fascination with strength, symbolism and classical form.
Richly worked scrolling ornament rises across the base around central oval cartouches, while deeply modeled acanthus leaves appear repeatedly throughout the composition. The tall baluster stems are built in a rhythmic succession of gadrooned knops, molded collars and elongated sections ornamented with acanthus leaves, creating both movement and remarkable visual balance. Above, urn shaped candle sockets are enriched with floral and acanthus decoration and crowned by broad scalloped bobeches, each fitted with a tall pricket for securing the substantial candles once used in the chapel.
The repeated vocabulary of acanthus leaves, scrolling forms, gadrooning and ball and claw feet gives the set its unmistakable Renaissance character, while the rich mellow surface of the brass records centuries of age and devotional use. Their private chapel provenance, sculptural quality and extraordinary survival make these candlesticks a rare and evocative example of early French religious decorative art.
Circa 1680s
Two larger measure 31H x 7.5W x 7D
Two smaller measure 29.5H x 7.5W x 7D
This set is available at Inessa Stewart’s Antiques, Dallas, Texas. See less