What is a putto candle holder?

A putto candle holder is a figural support depicting a winged infant holding a socket or branch for candles. These pieces draw on classical motifs revived during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. They appear in materials including bronze, ormolu, and porcelain, functioning as both lighting and decorative sculpture.

How do I date these items?

Dating relies on stylistic indicators such as Louis XVI revival proportions, casting methods, and material combinations like patinated bronze on marble bases. Examining the underside and wear patterns helps place them in the nineteenth or eighteenth century. Maker marks on porcelain examples or foundry stamps on metal further clarify the period of manufacture.

Where were they placed?

These items stood upon mantelpieces, desks, and side tables within nineteenth-century drawing rooms and salons. Pairs often flanked clocks in garniture sets. Their dual function provided ambient light and displayed sculptural taste.

What distinguishes candelabra from candlesticks?

Candlesticks support a single candle upon a single shaft. Candelabra feature branched arms that support multiple candles from one central stem. Both forms utilise cherub figures as the primary vertical support.