Skip to main content
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 15

Monumental Gilt and Patinated Bronze Candelabra by Beurdeley

$487,572.37per set
£350,000per set
€414,245.38per set
CA$662,050.14per set
A$742,152.92per set
CHF 387,015.93per set
MX$9,096,983.36per set
NOK 4,904,141.83per set
SEK 4,662,521.93per set
DKK 3,090,807.05per set
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

Monumental gilt and patinated bronze candelabra by Beurdeley French, late 19th century Measures: Height 273cm, width 90cm, depth 90cm This opulent, monumental pair of candelabra by Beurdeley showcases the artistic and technical talent of one of the great cabinet maker families of the 19th century. These nineteen-light candelabra, mounted with two pairs of putti as allegories of war and peace, are an innovative creation influenced by, but not copied from, 18th century precedents. While the striking contrast between the patinated bronze and the gilding coupled with the magnificent scale suggest a highly important or royal commission, there is no recorded patron. Beurdeley was evoking the opulence of the Sun King and Versailles through the size, materials, and quality of the candelabra, but from a 19th century point of view. Beurdeley’s patrons included wealthy American robber-baron families, such as the Vanderbilts and the Rothschilds as well as a mix of European royalty, including the Empress Eugenie. Specifically, Beurdeley was closely involved with the wealthy American families of the Gilded Age. He worked on multiple Vanderbilt estates, including The Breakers in Newport, and exhibited at the World’s Fair in Chicago in 1893. These candelabra are thus inspired by the Sun King and the style of Versailles yet are created for a 19th century audience, possibly a specifically American audience who furnished their homes in a lavish 18th century style. This pair was documented and photographed in Beurdeley’s studio; captioned with the handwritten inscription: ’Guerre et Paix/ les enfants sont en bronze le reste dore/ 19 lumieres (…)’ (War and Peace/ the putti are in bronze the rest gilded/ 19 lights). A size of 1m70 is recorded. The photograph then appears to depict the pair currently for sale. After Beurdeley completed and documented this creation, it is unclear to where they next moved. A pair of candelabra described as ‘Grande torchere Renaissance, Enfants Paix et Guerre. Bouquet 18 lumieres. Partie et contre-patrie’ were offered as lot 1331 in an April 19-22, 1898 Paris sale titled ‘vente de modeles pour bronzes d’art, meubles de style et de grande decoration provenant de la maison A. Beurdeley’. Despite being described as having 18 rather than 19 branches, this description could indicate that the present pair was sold in this sale. The candelabra are next documented at the Fox Theater in San Francisco. Eve Leo Fox, the wife of William Fox, the founder of Fox Film Corporation, purchased the candelabra in Paris in 1928, a year before the San Francisco Fox Theater opened. As Fox Theaters were built throughout many major American cities, Eve went on buying trips throughout Europe in order to purchase the furnishings and decorations for her husband’s ‘movie palaces’, which were acclaimed for their ability to seat up to 5,000 people. Unfortunately, the theater was demolished in 1963 and was accompanied by a sale of its contents. Following the sale, the candelabra entered the collection of the California Historical Society which subsequently sold them at Bonhams San Francisco, October 31, 2011-November 1, 2011, lot 1266. The Beurdeley family was one of the esteemed dynasties of French furniture makers and dealers. The firm began in 1807 with the career of Jean Beurdeley (1772-1853). Jean was succeeded by his son Louis-Auguste Alfred Beurdeley (1808-1882) in 1837, who then passed it off to his son, Emmanuel-Alfred (1847-1919) in 1875. The firm was established at 32 Rue Louis-Le-Grand, and owned pavillion de Hanovre, where the firm was based while Alfred-Emmanuel-Louis added two additional workshops at 20 and 24 Rue Dautancourt. The Beurdeley firm was one of the few not still located near le faubourg Saint-Antoine, or the heart of the 18th century furniture industry. They were unique in their ability to venture into the le quartier de l’Opéra due to their financial position, which was buttressed by money inherited by Jean and Alfred’s marriage in 1852 to Constance Virginie Fleytas, a wealthy widow from New Orleans. In 1895, the company's workshops closed and Beurdeley's stock was sold at several auctions conducted by the Galerie Georges Petit of Paris.
  • Creator:
    Maison Beurdeley (Sculptor)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 107.49 in (273 cm)Width: 35.44 in (90 cm)Depth: 35.44 in (90 cm)
  • Sold As:
    Set of 2
  • Style:
    Baroque (In the Style Of)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Late 19th Century
  • Condition:
  • Seller Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 14647B1stDibs: LU956320185822

More From This Seller

View All
Neoclassical Style Marble, Gilt and Patinated Bronze Candelabra by Barbedienne
By F. Barbedienne Foundry
Located in London, GB
The leading bronze manufactory of the French Belle Époque, Barbedienne, is responsible for the design of these exquisite candelabra. The Barbedienne foundry was established in 1838 b...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Candelabras

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Pair of French Gilt Bronze and Patinated Bronze Candelabra
Located in London, GB
Pair of French gilt bronze and patinated bronze candelabra French, 20th Century Height 108cm, width 37cm, depth 32cm A magnificent pair of 20th-century Empire-style candelabra, the...
Category

20th Century French Empire Table Lamps

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Pair of Gilt Bronze Table Candelabra by Ferdinand Barbedienne
By Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in London, GB
Pair of gilt bronze table candelabra by Ferdinand Barbedienne French, late 19th century Measures: Height 97cm, width 46cm, depth 35cm These large and finely cast candelabra were...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Table Lamps

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

Pair of Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Candelabra
Located in London, GB
A pair of Empire gilt and patinated bronze candelabra. Each with a winged Victorian female figure carrying a torchère on their hea...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Siena Marble, Bronze

Two Early 19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze Candelabra
Located in London, GB
These magnificent candelabra were cast entirely of gilt bronze in the French Empire period of the early 19th century. Each candelabrum is formed as a cornucopia of scrolled branches holding four lights with drip pans, set on a single torch-form stem, held aloft by a Classical style figure. The figures, one male and one female, are shown draped in swathed clothing, with the male figure depicted holding a quill in his other hand, whilst the female figure clutches a delicate bouquet of flowers. The figures stand upon circular bases, set onto ovoid vases which featured fluted details and central bands of laurel leaf motifs. The vases themselves stand on undulating roundels formed of acanthus leaves, which are further set atop square-form plinths. Classically influenced works were popular during the French Empire period, when the Emperor Napoleon I sought to create a place in history for France alongside the ancient dynasties...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Candelabras

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

Pair of Large Gilt Bronze and Marble Candelabra
Located in London, GB
These exceptional, large pair of red marble and gilt bronze candelabra is opulently decorated finely-cast neoclassical style decorations. Each candelabrum is formed as a red marble vase...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Candelabras

Materials

Marble, Ormolu, Bronze

You May Also Like

Important Pair of Monumental Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Nine-Light Candelabra
By Claude Michel Clodion
Located in New York, NY
Each with a figure, one with a satyr, the other a bacchante, holding aloft a spiral-fluted cornucopia, each signed Clodion, electrified. Artist: Claude Michel Clodion (1738-1814) ...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Candelabras

Materials

Bronze

Fine Pair of French Barbedienne Gilt & Patinated Bronze Candelabra
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Fine Pair of French Barbedienne Gilt & Patinated Bronze Candelabra last quarter 19th Centurycast by Ferdinand Barbedienneeach twin handled vase, signed F. Barbedienne, the body cast...
Category

20th Century Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Patinated Bronze Seven-Light Candelabra by Barbedienne
By Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine pair of neoclassical style gilt and patinated bronze seven light candelabras by FERDINAND BARBEDIENNE Original condition this pair was never touch.
Category

Antique 1870s Neoclassical Candelabras

Materials

Griotte Marble, Bronze

Fine Pair of French Gilt & Patinated Bronze Ormolu 3 Light Candelabra
Located in London, GB
A pair of grand tour two tone bronze Cherub candelabra, French, Circa 19th century, The three branches each with detachable drip-pans. Circa 1880 and measuring 19 inches ( 49.5 cms) ...
Category

Antique 1880s French Grand Tour Candelabras

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Patinated Bronze Nine-Light Candelabra by Barbedienne
By Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A fine pair of neoclassical style gilt and patinated bronze nine-light candelabra by Ferdinand Barbedienne, French, Circa 1870.
Category

Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Revival Candelabras

Materials

Bronze

Pair of French Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Figural Candelabra Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Pair of French Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Figural Candelabra Made Into Table Lamps Each standard in the form of the Winged Victory Date: circa 1810 Height overall 39 inches;...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Table Lamps

Materials

Bronze