Candlestick with shade (flambeau à écran)
Unknown Artist
first quarter 19th century
Medium
Gilt bronze, brass, steel, tôle
Dimensions
Height: 18 1/4 in. (46.4 cm); Diam. of base: 5 in. (12.7 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Gilt Bronze
Culture
French
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 1977
Accession Number
1977.231a, b
Art Historical Context
This elegant *Candlestick with Shade (Flambeau à Écran)*, crafted in France during the first quarter of 19th century, the refined metalwork of the Napoleonic and early Restoration eras. Standing at 18 inches tall with a 5-inch base diameter, it features a combination of gilt bronze, brass, steel and tôle (painted tinplate). The gilt bronze provides a shimmering gold finish, a hallmark of high-end French decorative arts, the shade—likely the "écran"—offers practical protection from drafts and flickering light, making it ideal for opulent interiors like salons or bedrooms. Produced anonymously ...