This magnificent pair of candelabra in gilded bronze from the Empire period presents us, in terms of gilding and carving, the excellence of the French bronze masters (carsivers, gilders) under the first Empire.
 At a time when superlatives are used excessively to present "classic" pieces, it is appropriate for this pair of candelabra to use a few.
 The superb original gilding and its matte and shiny contrasts are characteristic of that of Claude Galle. 
 Like François Rémond, Claude Galle has a gilding easily recognizable by amateurs. Just as some connoisseurs locate a wine through its color.
 If Claude Galle can be identified thanks to his gilding, it is just as much by his artistic way of creating his characters. The latter always express movement, their aspects are slender.
 As Ottomeyer and Pröschel noted in Vergoldete Bronzen, vol. I:
 "the style of body modeling specific to Claude Galle, is characterized by a mannerist elongation of proportions and an effort to express emotion in posture and facial expression"
 The two characters in this pair of candelabra, Cupid and Psyche, express this perfectly. The expression of feelings is subtly transcribed, we feel the modesty and attraction of the most famous lovers of mythology.
 Psyche, gazing at the butterfly she holds in her hands, evoking purity of soul and innocence.
 Cupid spying on the beauty, hiding the magic arrow behind her back, no longer knowing if he should use it. 
 Each character stands next to a magnificent torchiere forming the base of the four sconces. 
 The triangular base with curved sides, carved with oil lamps, olive branches, lotuses and dolphins. The sides with cut sides ending in claw feet. 
 
 This pair of candelabra is in a perfect state of conservation, magnificent original gilding. 
 
 The story of Eros and Psyche can be read as an allegory of the soul split between carnal love and divine love.
 As a lover of mythology and its legends, I would like to summarize the story of this legendary couple, as Apuleius told it to us:
 
 Once upon a time (just to be able to tell it to your children), in a distant kingdom, a king and a queen had three daughters as beautiful as they were graceful. The youngest was so extraordinarily beautiful, so marvelous, that there were no words to express it. The men captivated by the young Psyche forgot the cult of Venus, goddess of love and beauty. She then appeals to her son Cupid to take revenge for the affront. But the god himself succumbs to the charm of the innocent princess: did he inadvertently hurt himself with one of his own arrows or did Psyche's purity of soul triumph?
 Anyway, instead of delivering the princess in marriage to the most miserable of mortals, as his mother Venus ordered him to, Cupid has Psyche abducted in the air and installs her in his enchanted palace, where all is than gold, luxury and voluptuousness. Impalpable voices listen to the young girl's slightest desires; every night, her mysterious husband fills her with happiness. She quickly becomes pregnant. But he misses his family. She gets to see her parents again and bring her sisters, on condition that she never tries to see her husband's face.
 Of course, her sisters immediately envy her life worthy of a goddess. They insinuate that her husband is only a monster, so terrible that he fears to be seen. Psyche, tortured by doubt, wants to get to the bottom of it. Equipped with an oil lamp to illuminate the beast and a dagger to kill it, she surprises Cupid in the first sleep after love. And it is dazzling! But a drop of oil falls from the lamp and the wounded god disappears forever.
 Long wanderings follow for the grieving Psyche: she seeks help from Juno, then from Ceres, and finally gives herself up to Venus. She becomes the slave of her "mother-in-law" who has her whipped and subjects her to tests worthy of the exploits of Hercules: after having sorted mountains of seeds and brought back the golden wool of cannibalistic sheep, she must collect the waters of the Styx, the infernal river, at its source. Finally, she still has to go down to the Underworld to ask Proserpina, the wife of Pluto, ruler of the underground kingdom, the secret of her beauty, locked in a box given by Venus.
 Beautiful and amiable as she always is, Psyche has no shortage of helpers: ants, trees and rivers, a tower and even Jupiter's eagle spontaneously offer her their services. However, the princess gives in to legendary female curiosity, well known since Pandora, and opens Proserpina's box: she thus releases deadly vapors which plunge her into a deep sleep, but Cupid comes to revive her by touching her with the tip of his one of his arrows. The young god in love obtains from Jupiter that his wife be welcomed at the table of the gods on Olympus. Psyche consumes nectar and ambrosia there, which make her immortal: she now enjoys eternal bliss alongside her god.
 
 I am sure that this beautiful story made you think of others, more modern, at Disney and consorts. 
 
 This pair of candelabras perfectly illustrates one of the scenes of this story. Did you find it? 
 Cupid, coming to carry out his mother's order, falls under the spell of Psyche's beauty and purity. 
 
 Claude GALLE (1759-1815):
 Considered one of the most important bronzers of the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century, Claude Galle is today a reference for bronze in the neoclassical style. From the beginning of his career, he became a collaborator of famous founders such as Antoine-André Ravrio and Jean Hauré. This allows him to participate in the development of bronzes for the furniture of the crown. Under the Consulate, he quickly became Philippe Thomire's main competitor. It provides the imperial furniture storage, thus furnishing the castles of Compiègne and Fontainebleau. Retiring in 1813, he was replaced by his son Gérard-Jean. These objects, once very popular with the English and Russians, inspired bronzers such as Andreï Voronikhin (1759-1814) and Friedrich Bergenfeldt (1768-1822). He died in 1815 after having produced works that are the pride of major collections.
 
 As with most of my art objects and furniture, I am very careful to be able to offer them to you at a very low expert estimate.
 
 My photos are taken in natural light, without going through a photo studio. In this way, you will be able to appreciate this pair of candelabras as close as possible to its reality.