A 19th Century French Ormolu Elephant Handle Lamp, Signed F. Barbedienne

On either side of the vase are two decorative handles, made out to be fancifully embellished elephant’s heads. The inclusion of elephants—which were introduced to French culture through Imperialism and trade between Western Europe and Asia—are significant of the Orientalist ideology that emerged in the 19th century. French designers looked to “exotic” and unfamiliar imagery to incorporate into their traditional European motifs. The lamp is signed by Ferdinand Barbedienne, a French metalworker and sculptor well-known for his bronze working skills. For much of his career, he focused on making miniature replicas of statues and eventually expanded to produce household furnishings. His hope was to democratize the exclusivity of French empire luxuries and widen accessibility to the working class.