A Pair Of 19th Century Louis XVI Style Candelabra.

These large, finely cast candelabras were made by the well-respected bronzier Ferdinand Barbedienne. They are truly exceptional examples of 19th century French craftsmanship. They are decorated in the Louis XVI style and each with three-light branches. Ferdinand Barbedienne (1810-1892) was a Parisian bronzier and founder. In 1839, he created a company in collaboration with Achille Collas, the inventor of the mechanical method to obtain copies of sculptures on a smaller scale. Under the name of "Collas et Barbedienne", they specialized in copies of Antiquity and developed new chemical methods for the color and patina of their bronzes. His creations, specializing in the “neo-Greek” style, were particularly appreciated as an antique reference in the decorative arts, as was the large mirror kept by the Musée d'Orsay. The magnificent gilt bronze candelabras are draped with garlands in the shape of leaves and pine cones which accentuate the wooded beauty of this one. Above the two candelabras are placed the faces of a woman who point to the spaces between each branch.