Unique Antique French Louis XVI Gilt Bronze Figural Lamp

About the Item

The magnificent lamp is constructed with a circular gilt bronze base formed in several graduated tiers. The lowest section is decorated with a continuous frieze of scrolling foliage in relief, framed by plain molded edges. Above, a second tier displays detailed floral ornamentation within recessed bands. Rising from this plinth are three fully modeled putti figures in gilt bronze, each cast in the round and positioned around the central shaft. Their forms are naturalistically rendered, with softly rounded anatomy, textured hair, and smooth surfaces contrasting with the more heavily ornamented sections of the base. The figures grasp or lean against the shaft, visually integrating the sculptural group into the structural support of the lamp. Above the putti, the column transitions through a series of decorated stages. A gadrooned collar supports an ovoid knop decorated with a scale-like or leaf pattern. Further up, the shaft is vertically fluted, terminating in a capital with scrolling volutes and acanthus leaf ornamentation. A pierced gallery with curled extensions surrounds the upper section, which supports the later-fitted electrical apparatus. The lamp retains dual sockets with pull chains, mounted on a cylindrical stem, executed in patinated metal consistent with early 20th-century conversions of earlier decorative bronzes for electric lighting. This gilt bronze figural lamp is attributed to E. F. Caldwell & Co., the prominent New York manufacturer of high-quality decorative lighting and metalwork in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Caldwell’s workshop was known for elaborate gilt bronze designs in French revival styles, notably Louis XVI, often incorporating classical ornament and figural decoration such as putti. The casting, chasing, and gilding techniques evident in this lamp are consistent with Caldwell’s documented output, aligning it with the firm’s broader production of decorative lighting fixtures for both private residences and institutional commissions.

Dimensions:
Height: 36 in (91.44 cm)Diameter: 6 in (15.24 cm)
Style:
Louis XVI (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Bronze,Gilt
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
19th Century
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
New York, NY
Reference Number:
Seller: DD226-C51stDibs: 14091010666142