Retour d'Egypte oil lamp
A rare Italian library lamp in silver, patinated bronze, and polychrome marbles in the shape of a pharaoh. The base is composed of white statuary marble and landscape stone.
The lamp originally had a lampshade, now missing, and is still complete with accessories such as a small knife and candle snuffer hanging from chains attached to the rod. From the top of the head, from a flower element, comes the fan, and at the neck of the sculpture, there is the silver oil cup. The execution of the whole is exquisite.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the neoclassical taste led to the production of figurative oil lamps, in which the whale oil containers are supported by a human figure, mainly dressed as pharaohs, in vogue after Napoleon's campaign, according to the RETOUR D'EGYPTE fashion.
Rome, circa 1810
Height 57cm Base 16 x 12 cm
