Relevant categories: Mirrors,Lamps and Lighting,Silver Plate
(Above photo - Pair Regency Gilt Sconces Mirrored Girandole Candelabras )
A girandole is an ornamental candlestick with several branches that acts as a decorative item. The word girandole (French) originated from Italian as girandola, representing a decorative candlestick that sometimes featured a mirror. It is a more recessed form of the chandelier. The girandole was first introduced into European homes in the late 17th century. Users bought and used them in pairs to light homes and other spaces.
When it was first released in France, the girandole became a constant feature in homes of the wealthy due to its luxurious appearance. In the early 18th century, Ciseleurs designed some of the most beautiful girandoles, which are incidentally still available for purchase. In most cases, girandoles were made from gilded bronze, even though there exists some in the form of hardwoods. However, the most luxurious tabletop girandoles were made from silver.
(Above photo - Pair Regency Convex Mirrors Eagle Carved Girandole )
There are examples of girandoles that come as attachments to furniture or mirrors. For that reason, the very first large dressing mirrors and convex mirrors of the 19th century were called girandoles. That’s because they had candle holders mounted on the sides. Of course, these collectible items are still available today for those who wish to have them.
Girandoles weren’t just confined to France. Even though popular with middle-class and upper-class French, it soon received overwhelming recognition across the English Channel in England. In addition to the furniture styles imported from France, girandoles represented the epitome of the beauty of the emergent rococo style.
They are beautiful and charming, potentially adding a sense of beauty to any modern home. Even though you might not use them to hold candles, you can display girandoles as part of your art collection. These beautiful mantel ornaments come in pairs and help you create a great sense of symmetry regardless of where you choose to display them inside your home.
(Above photo - Pair Ormolu Mirror Girandoles Candelabras Victorian )
The girandole’s design makes it look like a fountain with arms surrounding a central axis. The arms then spread outward away from the axis like spokes of the wheel, providing a great way to display candles. As part of their decorations, girandoles had glass beads and prisms, creating an impression of water droplets when exposed to candlelight. Apart from aesthetics, the use of elaborate ornamentation seems to have had a different purpose.
It is simple. At that time, electricity was years away from invention. Therefore, girandole designers included many reflective and refractive surfaces that would help spread candlelight throughout the room, regardless of how big it was. That way, a single girandole could light up a large room with only a few candles.
Large girandoles went on taller stands or torchieres, putting them at the same height as the wall sconces. They would work together with the sconces and chandeliers to light up the entire room from end to end. Smaller girandoles would go to the tabletops and work with fireplaces to light the floors.
(Above photo - French Gilt Mirror Girandole Empire Wall Light )
Are you looking for a girandole to buy? We have several of these items in our showroom for your inspection and eventual purchase. Why don’t you reach out to us?
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