Pair of candlesticks; France, Napoleon III period, c. 1850.

Pair of candlesticks; France, Napoleon III period, c. 1850.
Gilded bronze, patinated and white marble.
Measurements: 81 x 24 x 21 cm (x2).
Pair of candlesticks of sculptural conception, adorned by two female figures robed in bluing bronze holding in each case the bodies of luce, topped in gilded bronze. These consist of three lighters joined by arms inspired by candilieri details and with their center adorned by a floral corolla as a finial. The bodies, worked in round bulk, rest on a cylindrical base of white marble with gilded bronze appliques. The arms and lampshades of each of the pieces have been finely chiseled. The candelabra and the anatomies follow classicist models in vogue during the Napoleon III period, in whose style they are inspired, with fluid lines predominating in them.
This type of candelabra were key pieces of decoration and interior design, as well as symbols of social status and refinement of the time. Elaborately crafted and often adorned with artistic motifs, these clocks not only served to measure time, but also reflected the technical advances and taste for fine craftsmanship of the time. Bronze, a durable and aesthetically appreciated material, allowed the creation of complex and elegant forms, integrating styles such as neoclassical or rococo, which made them highly valued objects in the residences of high society.