Candelabrum with woman playing flute (one of a pair)
Medium
Gilt bronze; rock crystal, carnelian
Dimensions
43 11/16 × 22 in. (111 × 55.9 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Gilt Bronze
Culture
French, Paris
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Tobias Meyer and Mark Fletcher, 2020
Accession Number
2020.96.2
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
This exquisite gilt bronze candelabrum one of a magnificent pair, captures the grandeur of Parisian decorative arts during the 1830s. Crafted between 1834 and 1839 by a stellar collaboration—founder Guillaume Denière,ors Jean-Jacques Feuch and Aimé Chenav, and M. Combettes—it features a graceful woman playing a flute, her form emerging from an ornate base adorned with rock crystal and carian accents. Standing over 43 inches tall, lavish gilding and precisely chased bronze surfaces reflect the technical mastery of French bronziers, who fire-gilded the metal for a radiant, enduring luster. Produced in Paris under the July Monarchy, this piece embodies the era's blend of neoclassical elegance and emerging Romantic flair, when luxury metalwork graced the salons of the elite. Rock crystal evokes ethereal translucence, mimicking flickering candlelight, while carnelian's warm red hue adds jewel-like vibrancy—materials prized for their rarity and symbolic opulence. Such candelabra were status symbols, illuminating grand interiors with both light and artistry. Generously gifted to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2020 by Tobias Meyer and Mark Fletcher, this work invites visitors to appreciate the collaborative genius behind 19th-century French design, where sculpture met functionality in perfect harmony.
About the Artist
Guillaume Denière|Jean-Jacques Feuchère|Aimé Chenavard|M. Combettes (French|French|French|French) · 1774 |1798 |1750 |1807 –1866 |1838 |1880 |1852
French, 1774–1866 (company dates)|French, Lyons 1798–1838 Paris|French|French, Paris 1807–1852 Paris