Oil lamp. France, Napoleon III, third quarter of the 19th century.

Oil lamp. France, Napoleon III, third quarter of the nineteenth century.
Patinated bronze.
Marble base.
Measurements: 13 x 16 x 8 cm (lamp); 10,5 x 7,5 x 7,5 x 7,5 cm (stand).

Elegant French oil lamp made in patinated bronze during the Napoleon III period, a period characterized by the eclectic reinterpretation of historical styles and by a marked archaeological taste.

The piece takes the form of a skylight of classical inspiration, supported by a reclining male figure that evokes models of antiquity. The sculptural treatment of the body, the wavy beard and the robust anatomy refer to the Greco-Roman repertoire, while the vessel has vegetal decoration in relief, reinforcing its neoclassical character.

During the Second French Empire (1852-1870), this type of object combined function and ornament, destined for refined interiors where patinated bronze provided sobriety and tonal depth. The quality of the casting and the richness of the modeling reveal a careful work, conceived both as a utilitarian object and as a decorative cabinet piece.

The marble base, with its simple architectural lines, elevates and dignifies the whole, underlining its ornamental vocation. This lamp exemplifies the 19th century taste for reinterpreted antiquity, in which the classical past becomes a symbol of cultural distinction and aesthetic sophistication.