Pair of Napoleon III style sconces-candelabra, mid 19th century.

Pair of sconces-candelabra Napoleon III style, mid-19th century.
Mercury gilded bronze.
Measurements: 65 x 35 x 18 cm.

Pair of wall sconces candelabra in Napoleon III style, made of gilded bronze mercury. Each wall lamp represents a mythological figure of Greek inspiration finely modeled, wrapped in a tunic and with a headdress reminiscent of Hermes. The torso of the figure is set in an Egyptian-inspired stipe. It holds two sinuous and asymmetrical arms of light that project upwards. With a dynamic and vegetal outline, they end in richly ornamented candle holders with acanthus leaves and rocaille motifs.

The ensemble evokes the decorative richness of the French nineteenth-century period, of historicist and eclectic taste, as was characteristic of the Second Empire. It reflects the fascination of the Napoleon III period for the styles of the past reinterpreted with exuberance and luxury.

The pieces stand out for their theatricality and technical virtuosity. The mercury gilding gives the surfaces an intense and warm glow, underlining the quality and refinement of the goldsmith's work.