Pair of Girandoles
A pair of girandoles brings dual candlelight and reflected brilliance to a wall, combining functional illumination with decorative architectural presence.
Pair of Girandoles
A pair of girandoles consists of candle-bearing wall lights equipped with mirrored plates to multiply the ambient light in a room. These dual-purpose fixtures appear frequently as wall sconces, pier mirrors, and candelabra brackets dating from the eighteenth century through the 1930s.
Buyers will encounter various regional interpretations, from Florentine giltwood and Venetian glass examples to French bronze and English brass pieces. The forms span distinct aesthetic movements, including Neoclassical, Rococo Revival, and Victorian designs.
Most surviving sets combine carved wooden frames or cast metal mounts with integrated candle arms. Their primary function remains ornamental display paired with atmospheric illumination.
What Varies in Quality
Quality separates objects by the crispness of the carving or casting work on the frame. High-grade examples display deep, hand-chiselled detail in the giltwood or bronze rather than soft, moulded contours.
The integrity of the mirror glass and the retention of original gilding significantly influence the character of the piece. Superior specimens retain their original mercury or silvered glass plates alongside structurally sound candle arms.
Pair of Girandoles Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for pair of girandoles among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Listings include eighteenth-century carved giltwood pieces alongside twentieth-century French crystal and brass variants.
Cottier and Co
The Pair of Girandoles Glossary
- Girandole
- A branched candle holder equipped with a mirror to reflect light. These fixtures hang on walls and serve both decorative and illuminating purposes.
- Giltwood
- Timber coated with a thin layer of gold leaf over a prepared gesso ground. This technique provides a luminous, durable surface for decorative frames.
- Gesso
- A plaster mixture applied to wood surfaces to create a smooth base for gilding and fine relief carving. It allows artisans to shape intricate decorative details.
- Sconce
- A wall-mounted light fixture designed to hold candles or electric bulbs. They are typically secured directly to vertical architectural surfaces.
- Ormolu
- Finely ground high-carat gold applied in a mercury amalgam to bronze. This decorative finish produces a rich, lasting metallic lustre.
Pair of Girandoles: Frequently Asked Questions
Where should girandoles be hung?
These fixtures suit placement above mantelpieces, flanking doorways, or on narrow wall piers where they can maximise natural and candle light.
Positioning them at eye level allows the reflective mirror plates and candle arms to serve as primary decorative focal points in a room.
How do I clean antique girandoles?
Dust giltwood and metal surfaces gently with a soft, dry brush to prevent damage to delicate finishes and historical patinas.
Glass components require careful wiping with a lint-free cloth, avoiding moisture contact on exposed wooden frames or mirror edges.
Can these hold real candles?
Most antique pairs retain their original drip pans and sconce nozzles designed for standard wax tapers.
Care must be taken with heat proximity to older gilding, gesso, and fragile glass drops during extended burning.
How do I date a pair?
Dating relies on identifying stylistic markers such as Neoclassical symmetry, Rococo asymmetry, or Victorian cast brass techniques.
Examining the backboards, assembly screws, and the ageing characteristics of the mirror glass provides additional chronological clues.