PAIR OF CANDELABRA. ROUGE GRIOTTE, GILT BRONZE. FRANCE, POSSIBLY NAPOLEON III, 19TH CENTURY.

Pair of candelabras. Rouge Griotte marble, gilt bronze. France, possibly Napoleon III, 19th century. Pair of candelabras with seven lights each made of marble and mercury-gilded bronze. The base, raised on four legs, presents vegetal borders around a central element on its fronts, and gives way to a garland base of Roman influence. Next, the base of the “vase” that forms the body of the candelabra has been decorated with plant elements, also present on the body in the form of garlands, uniting these two ram heads; Note the extraordinary length of the marble neck, which serves as the axis for the arms of the lights, worked in the form of vegetal scrolls to end in lighters shaped like vessels. It is also worth noting that the marble part is not made in one piece. Despite there being no record of a signature, certain details denote high quality in this pair of candelabras. First, the stone pieces are hand-carved Rouge Griotte. Also known as Rouge du Roi, it is a marble of Belgian origin that is highly appreciated in the decorative arts of French influence or origin. Second, the detail of the neck, prolonged and drawing a vented mouth at the end, is not at all common in French chandeliers when talking about marble. Third, the quality of the gilding is clear, surely mercury gilding (ormolú). Stylistically, you can see influences from the French decorative arts of the 18th century (ram symbols, garlands...), but reinterpreted in the manner of the 19th century (adding details of Rococo, neoclassical influence, etc.). Weight: 39kg.

· Size: 35x35x90 cms