Pair of candlesticks; France, late 19th century.

Pair of candlesticks; France, late 19th century.
Patinated and gilded pewter.
They show signs of wear and have some missing pieces.
Measurements: 50 x 23 x 16 cm (x2).
A pair of historicist-inspired candlesticks, crafted from pewter with a dark patina and fire-gilded details. They feature a stylized pear-shaped body with a truncated conical profile, topped by a wide candle holder with a lobed rim and a molded base in a gilded finish. The curved handles, also gilded, are hallmarks of the simplicity of the body and create a refined two-tone effect.
The sculptural decoration features small cherubs or putti in relief, depicted in a playful pose climbing up the body and handles of each piece. This motif, clearly inspired by the Renaissance and Baroque periods, was widely revived in French decorative arts during the second half of the 19th century, particularly under the influence of Eclecticism and the Louis XVI and Napoleon III styles. The combination of patinated surfaces with gilded details, along with the quality of the figures’ modeling, places these pieces within the context of French decorative production intended for bourgeois and aristocratic interiors of the late 19th century.