Old Cast Iron French (?) Stand (?) Holder (?)

Good day to everyone.
My new found:
Cast Iron Stand / Holder or ???
It weights 6 lbs. Triangle measurements: 12"x12"x12"; around 10" H
It is lined with Blue Felt and wooden parts kind of chipboard (?)
Also there is small 1/3" deep holes in the heads: maybe for candles?
Wings probably work as holders, but I also took attention on the ladies heads: they casted slightly flat and probably something was "sitting" direct on the heads and "points" of wings held "sitting" item slightly under.
Over week searching - no result. I even couldn't find similar "lady" online.
Please help!
Thank you!
Inessa

 

If I was writing the description, I might call the figures 'winged merman'.

 

A dining table center piece?

 

gueridon or tazza????

 

The figures aren't identical, but ...

 

Oh! Yes! I just now got that they are not "girls".

 

Thanks.
I was thinking too: depend on felt liner, which is not in bad condition; But depend on metal condition and finish - it looks more like for outside.

 

Thanks! Very interesting idea. My piece looks old like it was outside with "tazza", but clean blue felt confused me.
Also, I just learned two new words, though we also have in Russian word "taz".

 

Thanks!

 

@laura9797 @Roaring20s @Marote
Thank you guys for ideas and advices!!!! Looks like I did wrong searching, but now after your posts I think I found what it is... WE found. I found couple items and they are gas (oil) lamps. The figurines are the same, though made from the bronze. And it is right, it made to stay on table or other place inside of house, but it has kind of "burning" wear and it is from gas / oil. Just interesting what was on the top?
I will do more searching later, but here is for now.
Here what I found:
1st picture /
Antique 1870-90 Winged Mermaid Bronze Gas Lamp Wall sconce, Mélusine

https://www.etsy.com/listing/963032...how_sold_out_detail=1&ref=nla_listing_details

2nd picture /
Victorian gilt bronze converted gas lamp in the form of mythical winged mermaid upon a circular oak base, with a frilled green glass shade,

https://www.davidduggleby.com/auctions/2047/DecorativeAntiques-CollectorsSale/43433/

 

Here you are more:
Patinated-Metal Oil Lamp, Egyptian Style Bronze Urn and a Bronze Bowl on Stand, After the Antique

https://bid.stairgalleries.com/onli...ronze-bowl-on-stand-after-the-antique-5298029

Antique Oil Lamp With Rams Head Porcelain Louis XIV Style. 19TH Century France


https://lrantiques.com/product/19th-century-french-oil-lamp-with-rams-head-porcelain-louis-xiv-style

 

Think pretty modern, whatever it is. Quality of the casting is sub-par for antique

 

Judging from the hairstyle and tiara I think they are girls, just not as well endowed as some of their sisters. Compassion, ladies, compassion.

There even seems to be a nod to the Vestal Virgins, a bit of a hotchpotch of symbols as is so often the case.

 

I agree. The chipboard is not period -- it was invented in 1932 -- and the surface aging looks artificially applied.

Debora

 

Yes, you are right. I also looked again and think that they are girls, just before... "Plastic surgery".

 

You don't see many of those anymore, so I understand the confusion.

 

@verybrad @Debora
*Like I wrote already, that the quality of blue felt was confusing me: it is not in bad condition. I am thinking, that maybe holder is old, but lately people wanted to use it on the surface which should be protected and they decided to add felt on the bottom, but before felt, the chipboard was added, to fill the space inside of bottom, otherwise the felt would sag towards the bottom.
**The cast is so micro detailed - very good quality. I am just wondering if there would not be the liner and chipboard: would be there different thoughts about the age of holder.

 

girls, vestal virgins why not


try Mélusine

although that won't tell you what the stand was for ...

https://www.worldhistory.org/Melusine/