French Empire Candleholders in Gilded Bronze, 1800s, Set of 2

On a square and stepped base rests a circular slab pedestal decorated with palm trees. The quality of the chisel finishing is so high that it is impossible to see the welding! Cast leaf connections support a sphere, a globe on which a winged angel rests on tiptoe, a putto with perfect anatomy, with the curls of his hair and the plumage of his wings masterfully chiseled.

In their raised hand, the putti hold the main torch of the candelabra with four flames in total, decorated with leaf motifs, palmettes and floral elements.

The entire casting is well gilded with mercury amalgam, and is played on the contrast between the opaque parts and the shiny ones burnished with agate stone. 4 mm holes have been drilled in the bobeiges and colacera plates. for the passage of electrical wires. Two minimal flaws compatible with dating, the candlestick with the right hand raised shows old restorations in correspondence with the garland and is missing the end of a leaf in the central light and the index finger of the angel’s left hand.

The candelabras have been cleaned (as visible in the photo); to carry out this operation they were completely dismantled, each is made up of 38 hand-made pieces and the numbers MB are stamped under the base globe, probably referring to the initials of the master executor.

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

The base measures 13 x 13 centimetres.