Hand candle holder 1860-1880.

Superb hand-held candlestick in gilded bronze (copper-rich brass), finely cast and chiselled, typical of the Napoléon III style, made around 1860–1880. Its abundant decoration of scrolls, foliage, and sculpted heads illustrates the refined taste of the Second Empire for detailed ornaments and architectural forms. The base rests on four small ball feet, the side handle is finely crafted, and the piece retains a beautiful old patina, punctuated by slight touches of verdigris, testifying to its authenticity. Cast in sand from a solid bronze of fine density (670 g), this candlestick is an original 19th-century piece, not a modern reproduction. An elegant period piece, perfect for gifting or for oneself.