Pair French Empire Egyptian Doré Bronze Candelabra Designed by Charles Percier

Description

Thomier A Paris, A Monumental & Quite Rare Pair of French Empire Egyptian Style Doré Bronze and Patinated bronze Seven Light Candelabras After Designs by Charles Percier, Signed Thomire A Paris Conceived as monumental standing female figures, this pair of French Empire Egyptian Revival doré & Patinated bronze candelabra presents a commanding vertical composition intended for grand Imperial interiors. Each figure is rendered in a strictly frontal pose, with elongated proportions and restrained movement that echo the formal vocabulary of ancient Egyptian statuary. A deep brown Patination surface defines the body, while sharply articulated gilt bronze elements introduce contrast and structure. Down the front of each figure runs a vertical gilt panel decorated with stylized hieroglyphic motifs arranged in a continuous register, reinforcing the axial clarity of the design. From the headdress rises an elaborate candle superstructure formed of symmetrically scrolling arms surrounding a central stem. Flared candle cups crown each arm, their surfaces enriched with finely chased ornament. Additional subsidiary branches extend outward at intermediate levels, creating a layered and architectonic silhouette that emphasizes height and balance. Square stepped bases support the figures, finished in Dark Brown Patination and gilt and centered by winged imperial emblems enclosing circular medallions. These bases ground the composition and reinforce its ceremonial character. Each signed "Thomier A Paris". The design originates with Charles Percier, whose work, alongside Pierre Fontaine, defined the visual language of the French Empire. Percier’s approach transformed archaeological sources into a disciplined system of form, proportion, and ornament. Egyptian imagery held particular significance during the Empire period, following Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign, as it conveyed ideas of permanence, authority, and continuity with the most ancient imperial civilizations. Execution of such ambitious designs was entrusted to Pierre-Philippe Thomire, whose workshop stood at the pinnacle of Parisian doré bronze production. Thomire’s technical control allowed complex sculptural figures and multi-arm lighting structures to be realized with clarity and confidence. The combination of Percier’s authoritative design language and Thomire’s exceptional execution elevates this pair beyond decorative lighting, positioning it as a sculptural statement closely aligned with the official artistic ambitions of Napoleonic France. Height: 53" Width: 14" Depth: 11" Base Width: 8.5" Base Depth: 7.5"

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