Five-light candelabrum (one of a pair) 1780 - 1790

This five-light candelabrum was fashioned by Clodion, around the late 18th century. It's an intricate piece, primarily bronze and gilded bronze, mounted on a dark marble base. The eye is immediately drawn to the dynamic interplay between the dark patinated bronze of the satyr figure and the gleaming, reflective gold of the candelabra arms. The satyr's form is muscular and fluid, bearing the weight of the light fixture above. Clodion plays with the relationship between the natural and the artificial. The figure is rooted in classical mythology, yet the functional and decorative elements transform it into something else. The piece destabilizes traditional sculptural forms, and we can interpret this through the lens of structuralism where the arrangement of components creates meaning. The candelabrum becomes more than mere decoration. It embodies a complex interplay of classical references, material contrasts, and functional design.