The contoured stems rest on a lobed base with a shaped outline, richly decorated in high relief with shells, scrolls, rocaille flourishes, acanthus leaves, small floral motifs, and asymmetrical cartouches.

Each baluster-shaped stem, featuring curved facets, is animated throughout by sinuous scrolls, leafy clasps, and low-relief rocaille cartouches. It extends into a central twisted knop from which springs a bouquet of six double-scroll arms—arranged around a central candle holder—creating a composition of remarkable airiness.

Each arm, with its contoured profile, is adorned with veined acanthus leaves, jagged scrolls, and scrolling foliage. The fixed drip pans, shaped like gadrooned corollas, rest on molded sockets decorated with foliage.

The entire piece—cast, chased, and hand-finished with a burin—exemplifies the revival of Louis XV taste during the Second Empire, characterized by perfect mastery of form, exquisite chasing, and deeply sculpted ornamentation.

This exceptional pair of candelabra stands as a remarkable testament to the excellence of Second Empire Parisian silversmithing. With its imposing dimensions, rich rocaille decoration, and the signature of one of France’s most prestigious firms, it is a collector's piece destined for the finest homes and for connoisseurs of great French table art.

Dimensions: Height: 51 cm – Span: 37 cm – Base diameter: 16 cm

Material: First-standard silver (950/1000 purity)

Weight: 8,130 grams

Hallmark: Minerva

Period: Napoleon III

Silversmith: Gustave Odiot

Origin: France/Paris