Pair of French Restauration Bouillotte lamps

A pair of Bouillotte lamps with shades of ‘tôle peinte’ (painted tin-plate). The deep fire-gilt bronze dishes have a high slightly protruding edge and are decorated with palmet motives.
In the centre of the dish a vase-shaped stem, decorated with fine motives. On top a ring with three arms, shaped as classic meanders, carrying the dripping trays on which the vase-shaped candle holders are placed. Both the arms as well as the shade can be adjusted in height. The screws to tighten the branches and shade are shaped as feathered arrow shafts. The central bar is topped with a pine-cone.

In the 18th century Bouillotte was a popular cards game. The Bouillotte lamp was designed to keep sufficient light on the table without hindering the players.
As the candles burnt shorter, the shade or the candleholders could be adjusted to take the full advantage of the lamp shade. The deep dish that serves as base for the lamps could hold the chips or coins that were used to make the stakes. Once the popularity of Bouillotte had faded during the 19th century, the Bouillotte lamps kept their appreciation.