Barbedienne, Pair Of Neo-greek Candlesticks

A pair of neo-Greek candlesticks
by Ferdinand Barbedienne

France
circa 1880
height 17 cm

A very fine pair of Greek style patinated bronze candlesticks, decorated with stylized antique palmets, rosets and beaded necklaces.

Biography
Born in 1810, Ferdinand Barbedienne started one of the most famous 19^th century artistic bronze casting companies. He died in 1892. In addition to his personal production, he worked for famous artists such as Clésinger, Carrière-Belleuse and Guillemin. Barbedienne’s production was always highly esteemed and he was, himself admired by contemporary art critics who compared him during the 1878 Universal Exhibition to a «prince of industry and the king of bronze-casting». He was there awarded the «Grand Prix» as well as 28 cooperator medals. His glory did not decline with the passage of the time for at the Universal Exhibition of 1889 the critics thanked Barbedienne for the example he set for other bronze-casters by the perfection of his bronzes.