Antique Putto Candelabra
Antique putto candelabra combine lighting with classical figural sculpture, bringing nineteenth-century French and Italian metalwork into domestic rooms.
Antique Putto Candelabra
When searching for antique putto candelabra, buyers encounter figural lighting pieces depicting winged mythological infants holding candle branches. The selection on this page consists predominantly of nineteenth-century French pairs fashioned in the Louis XVI style or Rococo Revival taste, often accompanied by matching clock garnitures. These items serve simultaneously as functional candle holders and decorative mantel or table sculptures.
The figures themselves appear in various guises, rendered as single bronze putti, pairs of cherubs supporting twin arms, or larger multi-light candelabra. Alongside standard candelabra, the listings incorporate related forms such as wall sconces, torchère lamps, and complete clock sets. Most examples originate from French workshops, though Italian pieces and German porcelain variations also occur within the recorded range.
How they were made
Foundry work relies on bronze casting, utilising both gilt bronze and patinated bronze finishes alongside ormolu and spelter. These metal components are frequently paired with carved white marble, porphyry, or fluorspar bases, anchoring the weight of the candelabra branches. Certain pieces incorporate Meissen porcelain figures or detailed enamel decoration to add colour and texture to the composition.
Wings on these bronze cherubs span from delicate feathered pinions to surprisingly stout appendages that easily bear the weight of three-branch sconces.
What varies in quality
The refinement of the casting and chasing defines the superior tiers of antique putto candelabra. Master modellers produced cherubs with expressive faces and deeply undercut hair and wings, whereas inferior examples present softer, shallower surface details. The weight and choice of materials also divide the range, distinguishing dense white marble plinths and heavy gilt bronze from lighter spelter and gilt metal.
Coherence of design separates matched pairs from assembled sets. The best pieces demonstrate unified patination across the bronze elements and precise alignment of the candle arms, showing no distortion from casting flaws or careless repairs. Ormolu surfaces retain their original contrast between matte and polished sections on higher-grade specimens.
Claude Clodion·Francois Redmond
The Antique Putto Candelabra Glossary
- Putto
- A plump, naked male child figure, frequently winged, derived from classical art. These figures populate Renaissance and revival decorative arts.
- Ormolu
- Gilt bronze produced by applying a finely ground gold-mercury amalgam to a bronze base and heating it. This technique creates a durable golden finish common on French decorative metalwork.
- Clock Garniture
- A set comprising a central mantel clock flanked by matching ornaments such as candelabra or vases. These suites were designed to coordinate the decor of a room.
- Torchère
- A stand or large candelabrum designed to hold a light source high above a floor or table surface. They often take the form of figures holding torches.
- Chasing
- The manual finishing of a metal casting using small punches and hammers. This process sharpens surface details and textures after the molten metal cools.
Antique Putto Candelabra: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a putto candelabrum?
A putto candelabrum is a decorative lighting fixture featuring one or more winged infant figures holding candle branches. These pieces combine sculpture with function.
Most examples date from the nineteenth century and draw on French revival styles such as Louis XVI or Rococo.
How were they used originally?
These items stood on mantelpieces, sideboards, and tables to provide illumination during the evening hours. They frequently formed part of a matched clock garniture set.
In grander rooms, multiple pairs lit large spaces by reflecting candlelight off gilded bronze and polished marble surfaces.
How do I care for marble and bronze?
Dust the bronze and marble components gently with a dry, soft cloth to prevent grime accumulation. Avoid liquid cleaners and polishes, which can strip original gilding or stain porous stone.
Keep the pieces away from direct heat sources and moisture to protect the metal patination and stone bases.
How do I identify Louis XVI style?
Louis XVI style pieces feature classical symmetry, straight lines, and architectural motifs such as fluting and bead reels. This aesthetic contrasts with the curving asymmetry of earlier Rococo designs.
In candelabra, this translates to balanced scroll arms and formal plinths beneath the cherub figures.