Pair of Girandoles

At the court of Louis XIV at Versailles, candelabra (girandoles) were often placed on tall stands to throw the light farther around the room. A Parisian newspaper, the Mercure Galant, reported in 1677 about people's astonishment at the amount of light created as the candle flames reflected off the crystal.



The small size and opulent decoration of these candelabra suggest that they were intended to be displayed in an intimate, elegant interior.