Gilt Bronze Candelabra Set
These gilt bronze candelabra sets are decorative centrepieces that bring French style to a room.
What They Are
A gilt bronze candelabra set combines a mantel clock with matching lighting pieces to form a coordinated garniture.
The pieces appearing on this page span the Victorian era, the Napoleon III period, and the nineteenth century.
French influence dominates these gilt bronze candelabra sets, often taking the form of clock garnitures and mantel clock sets.
How They Were Made
Maker workshops utilised gilt bronze, ormolu, and patinated bronze, often combining them with white marble, onyx, and brass.
Certain examples incorporate enamel details to enrich the visual surface of the metalwork.
Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical UK retail prices for gilt bronze candelabra set, calculated from the Sellingantiques database of over a million retail prices indexed since 2003. This retail price guide relies exclusively on Sellingantiques data; no external sources or auction records are used, so the figures do not describe the wider market.
Materials recorded in the inventory include marble, onyx, enamel, ormolu, and patinated bronze.
What Varies in Quality
The distinction between standard items and exceptional examples lies in the crispness of the cast ornamentation and the integration of the materials.
Larger scale suites with complex multi-light candelabras demand greater foundry skill than simpler three-piece arrangements.
Henry Dasson
The Gilt Bronze Candelabra Set Glossary
- Gilt bronze
- Metal treated with a gold application to produce a lustrous decorative surface. This finish protects the base metal while providing a brilliant golden appearance.
- Clock garniture
- A matching set consisting of a mantel clock accompanied by side ornaments such as candelabras or vases. Such suites were designed to display symmetrically on a mantelpiece.
- Napoleon III
- A French design period spanning the mid-nineteenth century characterised by eclectic revivals of earlier historic styles. It embraces ornate decoration and rich materials.
- Ormolu
- Finely ground gold applied to a bronze base through a mercury amalgamation technique, popular in French decorative arts. The resulting surface has a distinct warm glow.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a clock garniture?
A clock garniture is a matched suite comprising a central mantel clock and matching side pieces.
These side pieces are typically candelabras designed to create a balanced display on a fireplace or sideboard.
Where were these sets made?
Many of these decorative sets originate from nineteenth-century French workshops.
They reflect the tastes of the Victorian and Napoleon III periods for elaborate interior ornamentation.
What materials are used?
The primary materials include gilt bronze, ormolu, and brass, frequently paired with white marble or onyx.
Some pieces also incorporate enamel and patinated bronze for added contrast.
How do I style a set?
These sets are typically displayed centrally on a mantelpiece with the clock in the middle.
The matching candelabras flank the clock to create a symmetrical focal point in a reception room.