A French Empire bouillotte lamp

Executed with three candle arms in patinated and gilded, finely chiseled bronze.

The lamp is fitted with a height-adjustable shade retaining its original painted tin decoration, known as tôle peinte.

The fire-gilded base is finely decorated with openwork palmette motifs. Both the candle arms and the lampshade can be adjusted in height by means of the central stem. As the candles burned down, the shade could be lowered accordingly, ensuring an optimal distribution of light.

The use of metal was particularly practical, as it was non-flammable and therefore well suited to a candle-lit interior.

The name “bouillotte” is generally associated with the French card game of the same name, as lamps of this type were traditionally used to illuminate card tables.

French Empire period, circa 1820.