A pair of three-light Empire candelabra, early 19th century .
Gilt and patinated bronze. Height 67,5 cm.
Literature
Egyptomania, L'Egyptian dance l'art occidental 1730-1930, Louvre 1994, p. 287-288, Egyptian sitting figures on a mantel clock designed by Percier & Fontaine 1802 (see picture). They were probably inspired by the print of an Egyptian fireplace by Giambattista Piranesi of 1769.
More information
A common misconception is that Europeans' interest in Egypt was aroused for the first time by Napoleon's campaign there in 1798-1801. Already at the end of the 17th century there are examples of Egyptian figures and pyramids in the arts, like in a French tapestry from the 1680s which shows a lying sphinx with pyramid in the background. In France during the 1770's and 1780's, furniture and decorative arts were created with Egyptian figures and symbols. Also in Italy at the same time there are examples of this type of Egyptian design thanks to Piranese's copper engraving from 1769. Gustav III's architect and designer Louis-Jean Desprez was probably inspired by Piranesi when he designed Egyptian-style objects and architectural details. However, the studies became more scientific during Napoleon's campaign, as he sent a number of scientists to Egypt to document the objects and take several of them to France. As a result, interest in France for Egyptian objects exploded during the first years of the 19th century. The French designers Charles Percier and Pierre-Francois-Léonard Fontaine, who created the imperial interiors of the French Empire, published pattern books with Egyptian motifs.
The candelabras of the auction show the interest in the Egyptian style and candelabra's sitting figures are inspired by Piranese's copper engraving from 1769 and Percier & Fontaine's model of a mantel clock from 1801 (see atteched picture). Their printed pattern books were widely circulated in Europe and came to spread the empirical style internationally.