Pair of Empire tin candlesticks

These fine pair of candlesticks are made in the Empire period. This early nineteenth century style flourished under the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte (1804-1815). While in France, most of the Empire candlesticks or chandeliers are from fire gilt bronze, in Holland the use of tin was much more common. After the body was produced in Holland, they were shipped to England to finish them with fine paintings. These candlesticks are beautifully painted with floral motifs, in different shades of gold.

Condition: Relatively good, some parts with loss of paint (in general similar candlesticks from this period have lost more, especially on the lower part)
Provenance: Daatselaar & Godhelp, 1988 (with papers).
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The Empire period
By C.C. (Camille) Verkoulen

At the end of the 18th century, it was a time of great unrest in France. The people were burdened by heavy taxes, an unfair social system, and the lavish lifestyle of the monarchy. Due to this socio-economic inequality and also a financial crisis and enlightment ideas, the people turned against the monarchy and elite, the so called ‘Ancienne Regime’. On July 14, 1789, Parisians stormed the Bastille prison, a symbol of royal tyranny, marking a turning point and symbolizing the people's defiance against the monarchy. Eventually, it turned in an end of the absolute monarchy, symbolized by the execution of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette in 1793. In the chaos of political instability, Napoleon Bonaparte emerged as a military leader. In 1799, he performed a coup and becomes First Consul. Effectively, he became the most important person in France at that time. In 1804, Napoleon crowned himself Emperor of the French, resulting in the end of the revolutionary period and the beginning of the Napoleonic era.
His reign marked significant political and legal reforms, the spread of the Napoleonic Code (a civil code that influenced legal systems worldwide), and extensive military campaigns across Europe aimed at expanding French influence. During this time, the Empire style. The name refers to the French Empire under Napoleon which was glorified by this style using the grandeur of classical motifs and imperial symbols. The Empire style was not only kept in France but spread throughout Europe’s influencing art and architecture during the early 19th century. This was also applied to the Netherlands, which became under Napoleon’s control in 1806 when he made his brother the King of Holland. In 1810, the Netherlands became part of the French Empire. Nowadays, this influence can still be seen at the Dutch Royal Palace in Amsterdam. Almost its entire furniture consists of Empire pieces which were placed there when it became the royal palace of Napoleon’s brother.

Source: A. Goodwin, “The French revolution”, 2016.