Pair of five-light candelabra
Medium
Bronze, fire-gilt; porphyry, iron (pin)
Dimensions
Overall (each): 27 × 15 15/16 in. (68.6 × 40.5 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Gilt Bronze
Culture
Italian, Rome
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Wrightsman Fund, 1994
Accession Number
1994.14.1, .2
Tags
Art Historical Context
These exquisite five-light candelabra, created in Rome in 1774 by Luigi Valadier and Lorenzo Cardelli, showcase the refined luxury of 18th-century Italian decorative arts. Standing just over two feet tall, each piece combines fire-gilt bronze with rich porphyry, a stone prized since antiquity for its deep purple hue and imperial associations. The gilt bronze surface would have gleamed warmly by candlelight, transforming these functional objects into sculptural statements for aristocratic interiors. The design incorporates graceful female figures and nudes, reflecting the period’s renewed fasc...