Napoleon III Bronze Figure of Hebe Table Lamp, France, Circa 1870
Napoleon III Bronze Figure of Hebe Table Lamp, France, Circa 1870
7269
A Fine Napoleon III French Bronze Figure of Hebe Table Lamp, Circa 1870
A refined and richly decorative French Napoleon III bronze table lamp, modelled as Hebe, the youthful cup-bearer to the gods in classical mythology. Dating to circa 1870, the figure is cast in bronze and raised on an elegant marble plinth, supported by finely worked ormolu feet.
Hebe is depicted in a graceful classical manner, her drapery carefully arranged to reveal the movement and softness of the sculptor's modelling. As the daughter of Zeus and Hera, and attendant to the Olympian gods, she was a popular subject in 19th-century French decorative arts, admired as an embodiment of youth, beauty, and hospitality. Her presence gives the lamp a sense of both mythological romance and formal grandeur.
The warm patinated bronze contrasts beautifully with the polished marble base and the bright, gilded finish of the ormolu feet. Together, these materials exemplify the luxurious, eclectic taste of the Napoleon III period, when classical references were combined with superb casting, chased detail, and opulent ornament. The lamp's sculptural form ensures that it remains an impressive decorative object even when unlit.
A particularly handsome example of 19th-century French lighting, ideal for a mantelpiece, console, desk, or side table. It would make an elegant addition to an interior of classical, Empire, or eclectic character, and is equally appealing to collectors of French bronzes, decorative lighting, and mythological sculpture.
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