Antique Pair Louis Revival Ormolu & Bronze Candelabra 19th Century

This is an exquisite large antique pair of dark patinated bronze and gilded ormolu three light, Louis Revival candelabra, Circa 1890 in date.

Each having Campana-form three candle sockets with central stem. The elegant gently tapering reeded turned bronze central stem with acanthus terminal, raised on three elaborately leaf-capped bronze claw supports and ending on a plain tri-form inverted base.

The attention to detail is absolutely fantastic and they are certain to attract attention wherever they are placed.

Condition:

In excellent original condition, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 51 x Width 18 x Depth 18

Dimensions in inches:

Height 1 foot, 8 inches x Width 7 inches x Depth 7 inches

Ormolu - (from French 'or moulu', signifying ground or pounded gold) is an 18th-century English term for applying finely ground, high-carat gold in a mercury amalgam to an object of bronze.The mercury is driven off in a kiln leaving behind a gold-coloured veneer known as 'gilt bronze'.

The manufacture of true ormolu employs a process known as mercury-gilding or fire-gilding, in which a solution of nitrate of mercury is applied to a piece of copper, brass, or bronze, followed by the application of an amalgam of gold and mercury. The item was then exposed to extreme heat until the mercury burned off and the gold remained, adhered to the metal object.

No true ormolu was produced in France after around 1830 because legislation had outlawed the use of mercury. Therefore, other techniques were used instead but nothing surpasses the original mercury-firing ormolu method for sheer beauty and richness of colour. Electroplating is the most common modern technique. Ormolu techniques are essentially the same as those used on silver, to produce silver-gilt (also known as vermeil).

Empire style,

is an early-19th-century design movement in architecture, furniture, other decorative arts, and the visual arts followed in Europe and America until around 1830.

The style originated in and takes its name from the rule of Napoleon I in the First French Empire, where it was intended to idealize Napoleon's leadership and the French state. The style corresponds to the Biedermeier style in the German-speaking lands, Federal style in the United States and to the Regency style in Britain. The previous style was called Louis XVI style, in France.

The Empire style was based on aspects of the Roman Empire. It is the second phase of neoclassicism which is also called "Directoire", after a goverment system.

Furniture typically had symbols and ornaments borrowed from the glorious ancient Greek and Roman empires.

Our reference: A2907