A Rare Pair of Parisian Patented 'Breveté' Spring-Loaded Candle Lamps, c. 1890
£850.00
Description
A highly collectible and technologically significant pair of French brass "Bouillotte" style candle lamps from the Belle Époque. These lamps represent the final flourish of candle-power innovation, designed with a mechanical sophistication intended to rival early gas and electric lighting.
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A Rare Pair of Parisian Patented 'Breveté' Spring-Loaded Candle Lamps, c. 1890
A highly collectible and technologically significant pair of French brass "Bouillotte" style candle lamps from the Belle Époque. These lamps represent the final flourish of candle-power innovation, designed with a mechanical sophistication intended to rival early gas and electric lighting.
The set features:
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Patented "Breveté" Mechanism: Clearly stamped "A.C. PARIS Bté S.G.D.G", indicating a protected invention. The internal spring-loaded system automatically elevates the candle as it consumes, maintaining the flame at a constant focal point within the glass.
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Complete Originality: A museum-grade survival, this pair retains the original internal heavy-gauge springs and the hand-blown, globular "hurricane" glass shades, which are often lost or replaced in extant examples.
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Integrated Functionality: The base of each lamp features a weighted, flaring foot for stability, while the central column hides the spring mechanism. The upper gallery includes a decorative pierced crown to dissipate heat.
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Historical Patina: The brass displays a rich, unpolished "estate" patina, showing a deep honey-gold tone with authentic verdigris traces in the recesses, confirming their untouched status.
These are not merely decorative objects but "mechanical antiques" that tell the story of Parisian industrial ingenuity at the turn of the century.
Key Markings:
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Bté S.G.D.G: Short for "Breveté Sans Garantie du Gouvernement"—the standard French patent mark of the 19th century.
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A.C. Paris: The mark of a specialized Parisian lampier (lamp maker) operating during the late 19th-century technological boom.
Condition Report
This pair presents beautifully, with its antique charm greatly enhanced by the preserved patina and the fully functional, rare patented mechanism.
Measurement
Height: 43 cm / 16.9 inches (each)
Width: 10 cm / 3.9 inches (each)
Depth: 10 cm / 3.9 inches (each)
Weight: 0.8 kg / 1.8 lbs (each)
