Pair of Candlesticks with Antique Figures and Poppies in patinated and gilded bronze, Directoire period.

Pair of patinated and gilded bronze candlesticks with antique figures and poppies, Directoire period.

Patinated, gilded, and chiseled bronze. France. Directoire period, circa 1800. Origin: France, circa 1795-1800.

Beautiful dimensions: Height 34 cm. Square base: 8 cm x 8 cm. Original mercury gilding. Exceptional chiseling.

Private Parisian collection.

Architecture: These exceptional patinated and mercury-gilded bronze candlesticks, dating from the Directoire period, demonstrate superb craftsmanship. Each finely crafted candlestick features patinated bronze figures representing a man and a woman draped in classical style, known as "aux Romains," supporting amphorae. A delicate branch with foliage and a poppy flower emerge from the amphorae, creating a floral sconces. The male and female figures are elegantly posed on a cylindrical base decorated with stylized Etruscan masks connected by drapery, all resting on a square base with a wide, ornate and molded collar. Our Directoire period candlesticks are exceptionally well preserved and retain their original mercury gilding.

Origin: France, circa 1795-1800. Directoire period. Materials: Cast bronze, chased, gilded, and patinated.

Condition Report: With over 15 pieces, these candlesticks are of excellent craftsmanship, with magnificent overall finesse and fine, elegant chiseling. Their original two-tone mercury gilding, matte and glossy, and their beautiful antique brown patina give these rare objects incredible presence and elegance, making them ideal for a collection or a tasteful decoration. They blend seamlessly with neoclassical and Empire styles, as well as in a sleek, contemporary setting. Traces of use and age (antique object). Antique candlesticks (one original and one later).

Biblio: In 1911, two pairs of candelabra with identical subjects were registered with the Mobilier National. One was at the Élysée Palace, the other at the Ministry of the Navy.

Sources on this subject:
Louis Jean-Marie Daubenton, in Encyclopédie, ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers, s.v. "Pavot," vol. XII, n° 689-690, Ernest Dumonthier, The Bronzes of National Furniture, <!--/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_250717_150959_867.sdocx-->

Ref: 66AGGQFR0H