Pair of candlesticks. France, Louis-Philippe period, ca. 1840.

Pair of candlesticks. France, Louis-Philippe period, ca. 1840.
Mercury-gilded bronze and silver-plated bronze.
They show minor wear to the gilding and silver plating, consistent with their age.
Measurements: 65 cm high, each.

The design combines a striking verticality with a richly ornate repertoire. The shafts, formed by clusters of silver-plated bronze columns, contrast with the gilded elements that articulate the bases, joints, arms, and candle holders. At the top, the curved arms are adorned with scrollwork and plant motifs, culminating in flower-inspired receptacles and flamboyant finials.

The tripod bases feature much of the sculptural work, with volutes, palmettes, and winged female figures treated as ornamental supports. This stylistic vocabulary ties into the Neoclassical and Empire traditions, reinterpreted during the Louis-Philippe period with greater decorative density and a more pronounced taste for the hallmarks of contrast between gilded and silver-plated finishes.

The combination of gilded and silver-plated bronze finds clear parallels in 19th-century French ceremonial furniture. The Musée de la Vie Romantique houses a fireplace set with candlesticks crafted in both finishes and further embellished with classically inspired female figures, bearing witness to the enduring relevance of this ornamental language in Parisian Romantic interiors.