A stunning pair of early 20th century bronze candlesticks in the form of eagles and serpents. The candlesticks depict a scene from the tale of ''The Eagle and The Serpent'' from Aesop''s Fables, whereby an eagle swooped down upon a serpent and seized it in his talons with the intention of carrying it off and devouring it. But the serpent was too quick for him and had its coils round him in a moment; and then there ensued a life-and-death struggle between the two. A countryman, who was a witness of the encounter, came to the assistance of the eagle, and succeeded in freeing him from the serpent and enabling him to escape. In revenge the serpent spat some of his poison into the man''s drinking-horn. Heated with his exertions, the man was about to slake his thirst with a draught from the horn, when the eagle knocked it out of his hand, and spilled its contents upon the ground. The moral of the tale being, one good turn deserves another.Each candlestick depicts an eagle on foliage ...