Pair of Large Portieux Crystal Candle Holders

Impressive pair of gilt and sculpted bronze candelabras with three branches. The stem of each candelabrum is a patinated bronze form of the winged goddess, Victory, who holds a gilt bronze torch in each of her hands. Her head is topped with a gilt bronze vase that transforms into the candelabra branches, which is embellished with griffins and rosettes. At the top of each candelabrum is a peacock standing on a globe, symbolizing the sun and immortality. Victory is standing on a cruciform-shaped base, which has a winged cupid on two sides and a caduceus on the other two sides. The intertwined snakes of the caduceus are a symbol of the Greek god Hermes (or the Roman god Mercury) and is a symbol of peace, eloquence and negotiation. Empire period. Perfect condition. Our model is inspired by the projects of Charles Percier and Franc¸ois-Leonard Fontaine, famous architects of the Emperor. Their most important work, entitled Recueil de decorations inte´rieurs (Collection of interior decorations), was published in France at the, end of the 19th century. The winged Victories, caduceus and griffins are some of the motifs present in this piece that demonstrate the adoption of Percier and Fontaine’s decorative...

Large six-light cage chandelier, with its gilded bronze frame, richly adorned with tassels and cut crystals as well as glass daggers. It ends with a faceted ball. This Louis XV-style...