18th Century French 2 - Colored Bronze Empire Candlesticks Circa 1800
Item History & Price
Superb large (12 & 3/4“ tall) pair of late 18thcentury formal French 2-color, "double-patinated" bronze Empire candlesticks, circa 1800We purchase collections of Continental lighting, metalwork, ceramics, glass & textiles, enabling me to offer a quantity of rareantiques. Please register mystore/page in your favorites, for a fine range of 14th to 19th century periodmetalwork, lighting & other pieces, all guaranteed, as to age, condition& origin; I have far more th...an I can possibly keep upwith, as to eBay!
Text, formatting & images © 2019 – R. JosefBurdett-Williamson – all rights reserved.Breveté, 2019, par M. R. Josef Burdett-Williamson. ATTENTION – défense de reproduction ! We are very serious, as to IntellectualProperty & Author rights – violations are reported to our attorneys in Paris& Leeds. Please readmy terms of sale carefully!Elly BurdettThis pair is in France.Pieces in the group photo are strictly for scale.You are only buying the featuredpair.Free collection by appt. is possible:my collections & some of Elly’s many new arrivals can be viewed. Please note:For those not familiar with my eBay store, you aredealing with 2 different people in England & France. I’m a part-timeantiques dealer, & sometimes exhibit at UK antiques shows.
My associate in France is an expat American historian of European DecorativeArts & museum curator, with 45 years of advanced experience. Sincerely, ET Burdett Dear friends &clients: We have more Fine Arts & Antiques than wecan begin to keep up with, as to eBay – at least 4, 000 period pieces. Groupphotos will give you a slight idea of the depth of mycollections, and Elly's inventory - keep watching this page. R. Josef Update: please note - we buy bobeches, and in large quantities - a major lot (more than 100) just arrived. Elly has three other pairs of bobeches (see photo # 9) that might be better suited to these superb candlesticks, but you only get to choose one pair. Do ask for photos - (no extra charge on the choice of a different pair of bobeches). Also, it's been a couple of weeks since I cleaned & polished the featured pair of bobeches - they are less glaring now - see photo # 8.As anhistorian of Decorative Arts, collector, and guest curator (mostly in France), I am endlessly fascinated by the evolution of forms in material culture. Frenchlighting - in any category, “country” or formal - offers an enormous variety, exceeding that of any other country, the richness of which has never been properly documented. No single reference book comes close to trulycapturing this vast diversity – the best effort to date is the 480-page, landmark 1933 work on lighting by G. Henriot, ENCYCLOPEDIE DU LUMINAIRE –Formes et Decors Apparentes (rare, out of print, & never translated).In the 2ndvolume of Henriot, tome VI, XIX Siecle, plates 200 to 225 illustrate a number of formal French bronze candlesticks, from the turbulent Directoire &Consulate periods, through Empire (1790 to 1815) – many are from the importantFrench national collection at the Palaisde Fontainebleau. The earlier lighting of this period (such as this pair)marks the first appearance of design elements that persisted and evolvedthroughout the Empire period, until that of Louis Philippe (about 1840). It’soften forgotten that much of Western Europe was conquered by Napoleon, and thatFrench Empire design had a very strong influence on other European DecorativeArts, including Germany, Italy, Denmark, Sweden & Great Britain, etc. – andthat the Empire influence continued to evolve in European Decorative Arts afterNapoleon was deposed.Figures 4 (Palais National) and 5 (CollectionDavid-Weill) of Plate 211 of Henriot specifically document both the form of this baseand shaft, in gilded bronze of the Empire period, and an importantsilver Empire example by Pierre Vallières (Paris), circa1800.This veryfine, rare and very formal bronze pair is “double-patinated” – the lighter-coloredelements are gilded, and in absolutely untouched condition, as is the pair, except for the bobeches (not original). The other pairs in the group photo are Louis 15th period, andwill be listed soon; Elly has about 40 pairs of 1650 to 1830 periodcandlesticks, 2 pairs of candelabra, and numerous chambersticks. The body of Napoleon was returned to France in late 1840, & sparked a major revival in Napoleonic interest, and design in Decorative Arts - but the pieces of the Revival period lack the detail, finesse and technical aspects of earlier construction. As with virtually any Revival period, styles get mixed up, and the resultant objects are more often interpretations, rather than remaining faithful to the originals.This large (12 & 3/4“ tall) and handsome pair recently arrived from the South of France – they came from a dealer whom we have beenbuying from for years. Either he or the person he bought them from has veryrecently and correctly cleaned them;the pair must have rested in a place of honor for the past 200+ years – it’sextremely rare to find such absolutely untouched pieces of early metalwork. Thebobeches are of the period, but not original; they are removable, and a very tight fit – I had to de-oxidize and polishthem, so it will take a while for the shine to die down, and match the rest ofthe candlesticks; however, the design is an excellent match. Thefinesse of the acanthus leaves and other floral elements is truly exceptional, and at least some of the background detail is hand-struck, not cast-in. Iwanted to polish all of the gilded elements, but only got a start on the upperpieces of one candlestick – the difference (left-right) is slightly visible. Ididn’t dis-assemble the feet, because I know that the dealer they were acquiredfrom did, to see if they are signed or not (they aren’t) – nuts and bobeches included, each candlestick has no less than 16 or 17 separate pieces. I don’t recommend takingthese apart – they are complicated, and there is alwaysa risk of stripping the threads on the central rods, which are currently inimpeccable order.On a commercial note: If you prefer to pay $325 to $2, 200+ for a comparable, but smaller pair of candlesticks, do look around on eBay.comVery recently, I've started to become informed on the staggeringoutput of Claude Galle (1758-1815); and to call a bronze foundry with 400employees an atelier - a workshop - is a bit of a misnomer. I’m activelylooking for books specifically addressing the design and production of Galle, but have only found one so far, and it is (of course!) out of print. Galle'ssophisticated works and major commissions were ordered by the wealthy merchantclass, aristocracy and royalty across Europe, and can be found in the mostimportant museum and private collections of the world.One of the more fascinating aspects of his work was technical –I've always thought that Empire-style candlesticks with iron central rods werelater, Charles X period (more like 1825 to 1830) - but I have recently seen twolarge pairs of formal gilded bronze Directoire/Empire candlesticksattributed to Galle (priced over 1, 500 Euros each, and sold) that had centraliron rods. This is a definitive indication that Galle was at the forefront oftechnical innovation in the late 18th and early 19th century - and that unusualtechnical construction might well relate to Galle's massive Directoire and Empire period foundry.Based on the superb quality of this pair, they might well be attributable – Ihope to be able to locate a copy of the book on Galle in the near future.We are independently listed with theNew England AppraisersAssociation, for France orthe UK.Condition: Virtually flawless: As described, and as-seen – the threading on both candlesticks is tight, and there are norepairs whatsoever. Photos are high resolution – use magnification for viewing details. Please ask, if you wish additionalphotos.© R. JosefBurdett-Williamson Certified expert & appraiser, New England Appraisers Association.FoundingTrustee, NewBedford Museum of Glass.Height – 12 & 3/4” (32.4 cm.): foot width – 5 & 1/2” (14 cm.). Total weight – 2.2 kilos, notincluding packaging.Insuredmailing within France is 15 Euros; to the UK & EU is 25Euros – to North America is57 Euros.We don't charge for packing & handling, & always offer grouped rate posting, with no time limits.We ship from both France & the UK– please read listings carefully – rates& conditions are substantially different.Important!We usually mailwithin 3 to 7 working days from clearance of payment: but request that buyers be understanding of delays due to illness, severe weather, or computer problems: this is strictly a small business, with noemployees! Intolerantbuyers, or those leaving less than 5-star feedback (no longer invisible) willbe black-listed. This is not a"decorator" shop - eBay’s Consumer Goods-generated “Hassle-freereturns” policy does not apply to arbitrary whim, or unqualifiedopinion! Returns areaccepted - if: there is amajor problem with the age, condition or origin of a piece as described;and this is confirmed by aqualified expert with professionalcredentials. Photographs of anyalleged damage are required - they are mandatory for insurance claims.What you pay for shippingis our actual cost – international shipping is stupidlyexpensive - we have absolutely no control over rates – I lose 4% to PayPal, and often absorb extra costs, such as double-boxing.International buyers – please inquire, as to mailing costs! From France, rates to the Russian Federation are the same as the US.Note:Our independent certifications withthe New England Appraisers Association (in both France & England) expedite Customsclearances, and prevent EXCESS duties from being incorrectly imposed on antiques conformingto the 100 years legal dateline, thus saving buyers 10% to 43% in relevant countries.Payments:PayPal, French or UK checks, or bank drafts, & all banktransfers accepted. I am obliged to accept PayPal, but prefer bank transfers, or UK or French checks -PayPal takes a 4% bite out of all transactions - including shipping costs.My French business associate is an expatriate American historian ofDecorative Arts, a published antiques editor & writer, curator, certified appraiser, & internationally respected authority in early glass, lighting, metalwork, sculpture, period furniture & other categories. He hasplaced pieces with French & US museums, including the Smithsonian, &assists me with acquisitions, research & texts. You can buy from me, withconfidence in your purchases. We are separate and private, academic collectors, looking to defray the costs of advancing with our own collections. R. Josef is the only EuropeanDecorative Arts specialist for the NewEngland Appraisers Association residing in theEuropean Union, and is available for expertise or arbitration. We areindependently listed with the New EnglandAppraisers Association, forFrance or the UK. ET BurdettDear buyers – apologies for the intrusive copyright lines, but they are there because R. Josef is an extensively published expert withongoing academic & commercial commissions, including forthcoming books. Listingsoften contain original research & information that has not appeared before;several British & Continental eBay sellers have been reported forplagiarizing formatting & texts. We fiercely protectour Intellectual Property rights – and in court, when necessary.
00084
Text, formatting & images © 2019 – R. JosefBurdett-Williamson – all rights reserved.Breveté, 2019, par M. R. Josef Burdett-Williamson. ATTENTION – défense de reproduction ! We are very serious, as to IntellectualProperty & Author rights – violations are reported to our attorneys in Paris& Leeds. Please readmy terms of sale carefully!Elly BurdettThis pair is in France.Pieces in the group photo are strictly for scale.You are only buying the featuredpair.Free collection by appt. is possible:my collections & some of Elly’s many new arrivals can be viewed. Please note:For those not familiar with my eBay store, you aredealing with 2 different people in England & France. I’m a part-timeantiques dealer, & sometimes exhibit at UK antiques shows.
My associate in France is an expat American historian of European DecorativeArts & museum curator, with 45 years of advanced experience. Sincerely, ET Burdett Dear friends &clients: We have more Fine Arts & Antiques than wecan begin to keep up with, as to eBay – at least 4, 000 period pieces. Groupphotos will give you a slight idea of the depth of mycollections, and Elly's inventory - keep watching this page. R. Josef Update: please note - we buy bobeches, and in large quantities - a major lot (more than 100) just arrived. Elly has three other pairs of bobeches (see photo # 9) that might be better suited to these superb candlesticks, but you only get to choose one pair. Do ask for photos - (no extra charge on the choice of a different pair of bobeches). Also, it's been a couple of weeks since I cleaned & polished the featured pair of bobeches - they are less glaring now - see photo # 8.As anhistorian of Decorative Arts, collector, and guest curator (mostly in France), I am endlessly fascinated by the evolution of forms in material culture. Frenchlighting - in any category, “country” or formal - offers an enormous variety, exceeding that of any other country, the richness of which has never been properly documented. No single reference book comes close to trulycapturing this vast diversity – the best effort to date is the 480-page, landmark 1933 work on lighting by G. Henriot, ENCYCLOPEDIE DU LUMINAIRE –Formes et Decors Apparentes (rare, out of print, & never translated).In the 2ndvolume of Henriot, tome VI, XIX Siecle, plates 200 to 225 illustrate a number of formal French bronze candlesticks, from the turbulent Directoire &Consulate periods, through Empire (1790 to 1815) – many are from the importantFrench national collection at the Palaisde Fontainebleau. The earlier lighting of this period (such as this pair)marks the first appearance of design elements that persisted and evolvedthroughout the Empire period, until that of Louis Philippe (about 1840). It’soften forgotten that much of Western Europe was conquered by Napoleon, and thatFrench Empire design had a very strong influence on other European DecorativeArts, including Germany, Italy, Denmark, Sweden & Great Britain, etc. – andthat the Empire influence continued to evolve in European Decorative Arts afterNapoleon was deposed.Figures 4 (Palais National) and 5 (CollectionDavid-Weill) of Plate 211 of Henriot specifically document both the form of this baseand shaft, in gilded bronze of the Empire period, and an importantsilver Empire example by Pierre Vallières (Paris), circa1800.This veryfine, rare and very formal bronze pair is “double-patinated” – the lighter-coloredelements are gilded, and in absolutely untouched condition, as is the pair, except for the bobeches (not original). The other pairs in the group photo are Louis 15th period, andwill be listed soon; Elly has about 40 pairs of 1650 to 1830 periodcandlesticks, 2 pairs of candelabra, and numerous chambersticks. The body of Napoleon was returned to France in late 1840, & sparked a major revival in Napoleonic interest, and design in Decorative Arts - but the pieces of the Revival period lack the detail, finesse and technical aspects of earlier construction. As with virtually any Revival period, styles get mixed up, and the resultant objects are more often interpretations, rather than remaining faithful to the originals.This large (12 & 3/4“ tall) and handsome pair recently arrived from the South of France – they came from a dealer whom we have beenbuying from for years. Either he or the person he bought them from has veryrecently and correctly cleaned them;the pair must have rested in a place of honor for the past 200+ years – it’sextremely rare to find such absolutely untouched pieces of early metalwork. Thebobeches are of the period, but not original; they are removable, and a very tight fit – I had to de-oxidize and polishthem, so it will take a while for the shine to die down, and match the rest ofthe candlesticks; however, the design is an excellent match. Thefinesse of the acanthus leaves and other floral elements is truly exceptional, and at least some of the background detail is hand-struck, not cast-in. Iwanted to polish all of the gilded elements, but only got a start on the upperpieces of one candlestick – the difference (left-right) is slightly visible. Ididn’t dis-assemble the feet, because I know that the dealer they were acquiredfrom did, to see if they are signed or not (they aren’t) – nuts and bobeches included, each candlestick has no less than 16 or 17 separate pieces. I don’t recommend takingthese apart – they are complicated, and there is alwaysa risk of stripping the threads on the central rods, which are currently inimpeccable order.On a commercial note: If you prefer to pay $325 to $2, 200+ for a comparable, but smaller pair of candlesticks, do look around on eBay.comVery recently, I've started to become informed on the staggeringoutput of Claude Galle (1758-1815); and to call a bronze foundry with 400employees an atelier - a workshop - is a bit of a misnomer. I’m activelylooking for books specifically addressing the design and production of Galle, but have only found one so far, and it is (of course!) out of print. Galle'ssophisticated works and major commissions were ordered by the wealthy merchantclass, aristocracy and royalty across Europe, and can be found in the mostimportant museum and private collections of the world.One of the more fascinating aspects of his work was technical –I've always thought that Empire-style candlesticks with iron central rods werelater, Charles X period (more like 1825 to 1830) - but I have recently seen twolarge pairs of formal gilded bronze Directoire/Empire candlesticksattributed to Galle (priced over 1, 500 Euros each, and sold) that had centraliron rods. This is a definitive indication that Galle was at the forefront oftechnical innovation in the late 18th and early 19th century - and that unusualtechnical construction might well relate to Galle's massive Directoire and Empire period foundry.Based on the superb quality of this pair, they might well be attributable – Ihope to be able to locate a copy of the book on Galle in the near future.We are independently listed with theNew England AppraisersAssociation, for France orthe UK.Condition: Virtually flawless: As described, and as-seen – the threading on both candlesticks is tight, and there are norepairs whatsoever. Photos are high resolution – use magnification for viewing details. Please ask, if you wish additionalphotos.© R. JosefBurdett-Williamson Certified expert & appraiser, New England Appraisers Association.FoundingTrustee, NewBedford Museum of Glass.Height – 12 & 3/4” (32.4 cm.): foot width – 5 & 1/2” (14 cm.). Total weight – 2.2 kilos, notincluding packaging.Insuredmailing within France is 15 Euros; to the UK & EU is 25Euros – to North America is57 Euros.We don't charge for packing & handling, & always offer grouped rate posting, with no time limits.We ship from both France & the UK– please read listings carefully – rates& conditions are substantially different.Important!We usually mailwithin 3 to 7 working days from clearance of payment: but request that buyers be understanding of delays due to illness, severe weather, or computer problems: this is strictly a small business, with noemployees! Intolerantbuyers, or those leaving less than 5-star feedback (no longer invisible) willbe black-listed. This is not a"decorator" shop - eBay’s Consumer Goods-generated “Hassle-freereturns” policy does not apply to arbitrary whim, or unqualifiedopinion! Returns areaccepted - if: there is amajor problem with the age, condition or origin of a piece as described;and this is confirmed by aqualified expert with professionalcredentials. Photographs of anyalleged damage are required - they are mandatory for insurance claims.What you pay for shippingis our actual cost – international shipping is stupidlyexpensive - we have absolutely no control over rates – I lose 4% to PayPal, and often absorb extra costs, such as double-boxing.International buyers – please inquire, as to mailing costs! From France, rates to the Russian Federation are the same as the US.Note:Our independent certifications withthe New England Appraisers Association (in both France & England) expedite Customsclearances, and prevent EXCESS duties from being incorrectly imposed on antiques conformingto the 100 years legal dateline, thus saving buyers 10% to 43% in relevant countries.Payments:PayPal, French or UK checks, or bank drafts, & all banktransfers accepted. I am obliged to accept PayPal, but prefer bank transfers, or UK or French checks -PayPal takes a 4% bite out of all transactions - including shipping costs.My French business associate is an expatriate American historian ofDecorative Arts, a published antiques editor & writer, curator, certified appraiser, & internationally respected authority in early glass, lighting, metalwork, sculpture, period furniture & other categories. He hasplaced pieces with French & US museums, including the Smithsonian, &assists me with acquisitions, research & texts. You can buy from me, withconfidence in your purchases. We are separate and private, academic collectors, looking to defray the costs of advancing with our own collections. R. Josef is the only EuropeanDecorative Arts specialist for the NewEngland Appraisers Association residing in theEuropean Union, and is available for expertise or arbitration. We areindependently listed with the New EnglandAppraisers Association, forFrance or the UK. ET BurdettDear buyers – apologies for the intrusive copyright lines, but they are there because R. Josef is an extensively published expert withongoing academic & commercial commissions, including forthcoming books. Listingsoften contain original research & information that has not appeared before;several British & Continental eBay sellers have been reported forplagiarizing formatting & texts. We fiercely protectour Intellectual Property rights – and in court, when necessary.
00084
