Studio RT Ltd

Description

We are pleased to offer for sale this lovely true pair of Bronze and Ormolu twin arm Candelabra, each with its own Snuffer. The bronze figures, we believe, represent the God Bacchus and Ariadne.

Ariadne was a princess of Crete, the daughter of King Minos, who assisted Theseus, son of the King of Athens, to kil the Minotaur, which was half bull, half man, and she escaped with Theseus, who she had fallen in love with. On their trip back to Athens, they stop at the island of Naxos. Ariadne falls asleep on the beach, while Theseus remain on board the ship sleeping. Meanwhile Bacchus (Dionysus in Greek) god of win and merriment, who lives on Naxos, espies the beautiful princess Ariadne and appears to Theseus in a dream, forcing him to leave Ariadne on Naxos. When she wakes up, realising that Theseus has gone, she marries Bacchus and in due course they ascend to Olympus.

The Candelabra are in Rococo Revival style circa 1850 and are probably French, although there is no maker's mark anywhere. The bases are pure asymmetrical rococo, with a tree supporting the figures and bearing the two branches, which are curving and bear flowers. Each candelabrum has its own flame topped snuffer and the ornate drip pans are removable.

Height to top of drip pan: 13 1/2" - 34.25cm

Width: 13" - 33cm

Depth of base: 6 1/2" - 16.5cm

Material: Bronze & Ormolu

Condition: Very good. The ormolu is not discoloured, there is no apparent damage, save for the fact that there appears to be a missing item from the uplifted hand of Bacchus, which may be the wedding diadem of Ariadne that he is purported to have held aloft and which later became a star.