19th Century Pair of Empire Ormolu Bronze Candelabra

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19th Century Pair of Empire Ormolu Bronze Candelabra

About the Item

This is an extraordinary large antique pair of dark patinated bronze and gilded ormolu five-light, four branch Empire candelabra, circa 1860 in date. Each is cast as a classical muse and stands on canted square plinths cast with acanthus. There is no mistaking the unique quality and design of this elegant pair and they are sure to become the centrepiece of your collection. This beautiful pair are in elegant Empire style, a neoclassical style prevalent in France during the first part of the 19th century. Bought on our last buying trip to Montpelier. Condition: In excellent original condition, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 68 x width 30 x depth 30. Dimensions in inches: Height 2 feet, 3 inches x width 1 foot x depth 1 foot. Ormolu - (from French 'or moulu', signifying ground or pounded gold) is an 18th-century English term for applying finely ground, high-carat gold in a mercury amalgam to an object of bronze.The mercury is driven off in a kiln leaving behind a gold-colored veneer known as 'gilt bronze'. The manufacture of true ormolu employs a process known as mercury-gilding or fire-gilding, in which a solution of nitrate of mercury is applied to a piece of copper, brass, or bronze, followed by the application of an amalgam of gold and mercury. The item was then exposed to extreme heat until the mercury burned off and the gold remained, adhered to the metal object. No true ormolu was produced in France after around 1830 because legislation had outlawed the use of mercury. Therefore, other techniques were used instead but nothing surpasses the original mercury-firing ormolu method for sheer beauty and richness of colour. Electroplating is the most common modern technique. Ormolu techniques are essentially the same as those used on silver, to produce silver-gilt (also known as vermeil). Empire style, is an early-19th-century design movement in architecture, furniture, other decorative arts and the visual arts followed in Europe and America until around 1830. The style originated in and takes its name from the rule of Napoleon I in the First French Empire, where it was intended to idealize Napoleon's leadership and the French state. The style corresponds to the Biedermeier style in the German-speaking lands, Federal style in the United States and to the Regency style in Britain. The previous style was called Louis XVI style, in France. The Empire style was based on aspects of the Roman Empire. It is the second phase of neoclassicism which is also called "Directoire", after a goverment system. Furniture typically had symbols and ornaments borrowed from the glorious ancient Greek and Roman empires. The furniture was made from heavy woods such as mahogany and ebony, imported from the colonies, with dark finishes often with decorative bronze mounts. Marble tops were popular as were Egyptian motifs like sphinxes, griffins, urns and eagles and the Napoleonic symbols, the eagle, the bee, the initials "I" and a large "N." Gilded bronze (ormolu) details displayed a high level of craftsmanship.

Dimensions:
Height: 26.78 in (68 cm)Width: 11.82 in (30 cm)Depth: 11.82 in (30 cm)
Sold As:
Set of 2
Style:
Empire (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Bronze,Ormolu
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
1860-1869
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1860
Condition:
Seller Location:
London, GB
Reference Number:
Seller: 076711stDibs: LU95065865563