Pair of Altar Candlesticks 1862

These bronze candlesticks were created by Eugène-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc, the 19th-century French architect and theorist, during a period where historical styles were being revisited and reinterpreted. Notice the symmetry and verticality, each element stacked upon the other, creating a balanced visual rhythm that ascends towards the sharp pinnacle. The textured, ornate base contrasts with the smooth, slender stem, typical of Viollet-le-Duc’s approach to design. The careful balance between functionality and ornamentation speaks to a broader discourse on the role of design in structuring social and spiritual spaces. Viollet-le-Duc advocated for structural rationality and Gothic Revivalism, which considered how architectural and decorative forms could reveal underlying principles of design. Here, the candlesticks become more than mere objects; they represent a coherent system of signs reflecting values and beliefs about order, beauty, and the sacred.