Description
French Late Bronze Dore
From our Decorative collection, we are delighted to introduce this French Pair of Louis XIV Style Ormolu Candelabra by Henry Dasson. The pair of candelabra beautifully executed in cast gilded bronze featuring a six scrolling branches issuing from a central hexagonal column surmounted by a flamed finial. The faces of the column with alternating panels featuring an objects amongst animals and foliage. The base of the candelabras decorated with shells and acanthus leaves offering good support for the heavy ormolu bronze casting. Both of the candelabras are signed to the edge of the feet Henry Dasson and dated 1880. The candelabras are complete with the original gilding and candle sconces.
Provenance Private Estate Vienna, Austria – Galleria Camiciotti, Florence, Italy
Galleria Camiciotti is located in Florence Italy and has been offering strict French furniture and objects since 1967. Originally founded by Ugo Camiciotti his grandson Stefano now runs the Gallery known as a little corner of France in the heart of Florence.
Henry Dasson (c. 1825–1896) was a nineteenth century Parisian maker of gilt-bronze mounted furniture. He started his career as a bronze sculptor before moving into cabinetmaking. This allowed a large dominance over other furniture makers of the time due to his extremely high quality bronze work. Dasson is regarded as one of the best and most influential furniture makers of the second half of the 19th century.
Ormolu is the name given to a gilding technique which consists of applying a finely ground high-carat gold–mercury amalgam to an object of bronze. The mercury is driven off in a kiln with extreme heat leaving behind a gold coating. Also known as bronze doré in French or gilt bronze in English. Around 1830, legislation in France had outlawed the use of mercury for health reasons however it was continued to be used until 1900s. This process has generally replaced today by electroplating gold over base substrate.
Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper with approximately 12–12.5% tin and often with the addition of other metals (including aluminium, manganese, nickel, or zinc) and sometimes non-metals, such as phosphorus, or metalloids such as arsenic or silicon depending on the age of the bronze and its origin. The additions of other metals produce a range of alloys that are usually harder than copper alone and carry useful properties such as strength. The earliest known use of bronze dates to the 5th millennium BCE from Iranian plateau, the bronze mix consists of arsenical copper and copper-arsenide. The earliest tin-copper-alloy recovered is dated to circa 4650 BCE and was found in Plocnik, Serbia. It is believed to have been smelted from a natural tin-copper ore.
Louis XIV (1638-1715)Â known as Louis the Great and the Sun King was King of France from 1643 until his death in 1715. His verified reign of 72 years and 110 days is the longest of any sovereign.Â
Candelabra is a candle holder with multiple arms that may be placed on any surface.
Measurements 65.5cm High x 36cm Wide x 36cm Deep (25.8 x 13.8 Inches)
Condition Very Good, the candelabras are in untouched condition with the original gilding to the bronze, there is rubbing in areas consistent with the dateline from cleaning.
