Napoleon III Lively Bronze Match Holder w/ Street Performer & Monkeys - 7"

This finely detailed figural match holder in gilt and patinated bronze, dating from the late 19th century, presents a lively and whimsical composition. The petite table-top piece portrays a street performer with two monkeys, one perched expectantly to receive a treat, the other swinging playfully from a horizontal bar between turned uprights. Crisp chasing accentuates the performer’s quilted costume and the animals’ textured fur, while the cleverly designed match reservoir takes the form of a strapped drum carried on the man’s back. The ensemble rests on an oval cast base with decorative tooling, raised upon a red marble plinth with small gilt feet; a ridged band at the base serves as the striking surface. Unmarked, yet distinguished by the evident quality and refinement of its workmanship.

These match holders were practical table accessories designed to store matches and provide a striking surface, commonly found on café counters, mantelpieces, and writing desks of the late 19th century. Skilled bronze makers specialized in witty figural compositions that combined utility with narrative charm, crafting small works that balanced function with artistry. The subject of the street entertainer with monkeys reflects the era’s fascination with itinerant amusements seen at fairs and boulevards, a popular motif in decorative bronzes that brought color and character to domestic interiors while serving everyday rituals of lighting lamps, stoves or cigars.

This sculptural match holder adds an animated accent to a mantel, library table, or bar cart, perfectly suited to hold long matches for candles and the hearth. Its lively narrative and warm patina make it a natural companion to ebonized woods, black slate clocks, or other richly hued accents, while also providing a striking counterpoint atop marble, leather, or dark stone. Its intricate detail and atmospheric finish invite close appreciation and conversation.