Pair of French Empire three-light appliques

These appliques consist of a round backing plate with a stylized palmette at the top and bottom. The edge of the backing plate is decorated with palmettes. Within this, a stylized composition of flowers and leaves is found. From a round ring mounted on the backing plate, three arms emerge, shaped like stylized swans with outstretched wings, supporting the candleholders with their heads.

The swan was a popular subject during the Empire period. It was a symbol of beauty and unconditional loyalty. The swan also featured prominently in Greek mythology, for example, as the inseparable companion of Apollo or figuring in the myth of Leda and the Swan. The graceful form of the swan, with its elongated neck, was frequently used in elegant furniture designs at the beginning of the nineteenth century.