Of large proportions, the ormolu cast brass candlesticks fashioned as weathered Greek ruins in the form of fluted Corinthian columns on oblong plinths, each cast with masonry and plants within lappet borders, one being stamped ‘1245’ to the inner base, and both surviving from the last quarter of the nineteenth century.
Unknown.
These candlesticks were clearly inspired by Greek antique ruins, hence the deliberately corroded and imperfect surfaces which are really cleverly executed. The stamped mark of 1245 is probably the manufacturer’s serial numbers. The sharpness of the casting has deliberately been softened to reflect the weathered and part-ruined state of the capitals.
A Corinthian capital in architectural terms is the top part of a column characterised by large acanthus leaves and fluted columns, as we see here.. The Victorians would have enjoyed the novelty and exotic undertones of these candle sticks opposed to the regular brass examples more commonly found at the time and we cannot find any examples that are similar to these; usually candlesticks formed as capitals are not in ‘ruined’ form.
A good large decorative pair of candlesticks that have real presence.
The patination to the candlesticks is appealing and there is no loss or structural damage aside from one section of repair to one of the bases. The patination is beautiful and they have not been overly cleaned.
By appointment only.
