Antique Pair of French Mercury Glass Candlesticks, late 19th c.

A pair of French mercury glass candlesticks in turned baluster form, the stems articulated with knops and rings rising from circular stepped feet. Verre mercurisé (mercury glass) was developed in France and Bohemia in the mid-nineteenth century as an affordable alternative to silver, achieved by blowing a double-walled clear glass form and introducing a silvering solution between the layers, then sealing the underside. Over time the silver oxidizes and pulls away from the glass, producing the soft, weathered patina that collectors prize.

These candlesticks show beautiful authentic loss to the silvering, particularly at the upper bowls and along the knops, allowing the clear glass to read through and giving the pair a layered, atmospheric quality.

Dimensions: 8½ in. tall × 4 in. base.