Candleholder (2) - Iron

Paar neoclassical flank candelabra on blackened wooden basement – Silvered cast metal – France – Circa 1870–1900 (21.5 cm)

Description

A striking and decorative pair of architectural candelabra from the Historicism period (c. 1870–1900), designed in a refined Neoclassical / Neo-Grec style.

Thanks to the sleek, almost flat silhouette these candlesticks are specifically made as flank pieces for a narrow mantel or wall console, traditionally placed on either side of a pendulum clock or decorative mirror. The candelabra are mounted on stepped, ebonized wooden feet, providing a strong contrast with the silvered metal.

Iconography & Details

Candle holders: Executed as classical urns/vases, around them decorated with hanging festoons and draperies in relief.

Shaft: An openworked octagonal element with a facetted pane motif, borne by two tapering, sharply profiled uprights. The transition to the plinth is accented at the corners with pineapples.

Basement & Relief: The base consists of two registers: a cubic upper section with a narrative frieze of classical figures/bacchantes in relief, and a semicircular lunette with a stylized palmette flanked by drinking birds among tendrils.

Specifications

Origin: France (continental Europe)

Dating: Circa 1870–1900 (Historicism / fin de siècle)

Material: Silvered cast metal on blackened wooden basement

Height: 21.5 cm

Quantity: 2 pieces (pendant pair)

Condition

In authentic condition with a beautifully weathered patina. The silvering shows age-appropriate wear on the higher relief areas, which adds depth to the layering and details of the casting. Both candelabra stand firmly on their wooden basements. See the photos for an accurate view of the condition.