Candelabra. France, ca. 1830

Candelabra. France, ca. 1830
In gilded bronze and iron.
Adjustable in height.
Measurements: 46 x 23 x 14 cm.

This candelabra with two candles, dated approximately 1830 and of French manufacture, embodies the stylistic transition of its time. The period of the Bourbon Restoration and the beginnings of the July Monarchy in France (1815-1848) saw an evolution from the rigidity of Neoclassicism, influenced by the Napoleonic Empire, towards a growing eclecticism and a search for ornamentation.

Made of bronze and iron, it reflects the solidity and the predilection for polished metals of the period. The ability to be adjustable in height was a valuable functional feature, allowing the lighting to be adapted to the needs of the moment, a reflection of the growing importance of practicality in furniture design.

The rectangular shade that crowns it inserts an octagonal painting depicting a classical landscape including ruins, a direct nod to the romantic and picturesque ideal that was beginning to flourish at the time, without entirely abandoning the classical influence. The lampshade, with a blue background, is framed by a design of intertwined scrolls. The candle-holder lampshades are plant-inspired.