Antique Brass Candle Holder Decaix

The Met x Eichholtz introduces the Candle Holder Decaix, inspired by the British fascination with Egyptian design ignited during Napoleon Bonaparte’s North African campaign (1798). With an antiqued brass finish, our piece evokes an early 19th-century pair of so-called “Egyptomania” candelabras by Alexis Decaix (British, active 1778–1811) in The Met collection, blending timeless allure with contemporary sophistication.

HISTORIC PROVENANCE

The Candle Holder Decaix is inspired by an Egyptian-style pair of candelabras designed by Alexis Decaix (British, active 1778–1811) for Goodwood House in southern England between around 1802 and 1806. Referred to as “Egyptomania” candelabras, their design was influenced by Napoleon Bonaparte’s North African campaign of 1798. Napoleon was accompanied on his expedition by a team of scholars who recorded their findings, and the resulting publication by Baron Vivant Denon (French, 1747–1825) on the monuments of the Nile Valley had a significant influence on design.