Pair of Antique Italian Gilded, Carved, Painted Five-Arm Candelabras, circa 1850

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Pair of Antique Italian Gilded, Carved, Painted Five-Arm Candelabras, circa 1850

About the Item

Receive our new selections direct from 1stdibs by email each week. Please click Follow Dealer below and see them first! A pair of monumental carved, gilded and painted wood antique Italian candelabras circa 1850 each having five arms assembled from nineteenth century elements. These candelabra showcase the amazing design ingenuity of Italian artisans with their ability to rescue diverse elements from being destroyed and placing them together to create a breathtaking new piece. The shaft of each candelabra features the original carving of a vine with fruit and leaves that have been rendered in an extremely lifelike fashion. This level of detail is reminiscent of the famous Solomonic columns seen in the Vatican with their fabulous curves encrusted with grapevines. The spiral of the vine pulls the eye upward to the top of each candelabra where the arc of each iron arm relates beautifully to the curve of the spiral carving. The top is made from a series of turned wooden elements that retain their original gilded finish and were originally part of a staircase banister. Now they add sculptural dimension to the top and bottom of each candelabra where the rounded profile balances the overall appearance. There are five gilded iron arms that top each candelabra with the centre arm being the highest as it is placed directly on top of the entire candelabra. The other four arms have a graceful spread across the entire expanse of the top and the slight variation in their placement shows their hand done nature. Each of the five arms at the top of the two candelabra has a circular bobeche of oxidized iron along with a simple round candle nozzle made to hold the candle in place with the bobeche in place to capture any wax dripping from a burning candle. Notice how each bobeche is in the shape of a bowl with a scalloped edge around the entire circumference. This slight change in profile is in keeping decoratively with the entire piece and shows the wonderful attention to detail of Italian craftsmanship. The key that shows an awareness of contemporary design is the base of each candelabra. In order to balance the weight that is concentrated at the top with the five candle arms each candelabra has been mounted upon a single slab of steel with a curved shape across the front and sides to meet a straight edge in the back. This steel base gives each candelabra a structurally sound surface upon which to Stand and recedes from sight as the beauty of the carved and gilded and painted wooden elements is the focus of attention. The extraordinary scale of each candelabra ensures their prominence in any interior where they are placed and the ability to place lighted candles adds to their enchanting appeal.

Dimensions:
Height: 45 in (114.3 cm)Width: 31 in (78.74 cm)Depth: 18 in (45.72 cm)
Style:
Baroque (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Iron,Paint,Wood,Gilt,Hand-Carved,Hand-Painted
Place of Origin:
Italy
Period:
Mid-19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1850
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Houston, TX
Reference Number:
Seller: BH5801stDibs: U1209108668763