Antique Lighting

French Empire Lighter

Period

Empire; ca. 1800

Material

mahogany veneered, crystal and bronze

Sizes

(height) 55cm. (width) 25cm. (Length) 25cm.

Description

The front of the base has a drawer and is decorated with gilt bronze six-pointed stars and a shield engraved with the intitials L A (presumably of the first owner). Underneath a gilt bronze ornament with a rose in the centre and palmettes on both ends. On two sides of the base again a six-pointed star.
The lighter itself consists of two leadcrystal receptacles that are connected through a gilt bronze siphon that is fitted with a holder for flints.
In the catalogue of the 7th mostra/mercato internazionale antiquariato held from september 18. to october 17. 1971 in the Palazzo Strozzi in Florence, an identical pair of lighters is described. The catalogue mentiones the posession of a similar Briquet Cartier lighter by Zsar Nicholas II of Russia.