Pair of sconces with canephore children, Paris circa 1780

Rare pair of sconces with two arms of lights in finely chased bronze and gilded with mercury. 
The shafts, girdled with a garland of flowers and fruits, represent terms to the children ended by sheaths with acanthus leaves. 
Each child has curly hair framing a pleasing face with well-defined pupils. 
Their bodies are simply dressed in a simple drape positioned under the belly. 
Our two children stand upright, arms raised holding baskets filled with fruit and flowers on their heads. 
From the shaft come two arms of lights decorated with foliage that support the wicks resting in cups with palmettes. 
 
Very good condition, exceptional quality of chasing and gilding with mercury. 
 
Attributed to the founder-chiseler Pierre Rémond*, after a drawing by Jean Louis Prieur, Paris, Louis XVI period around 1780. 
 
Dimensions : 
 
Height : 36 cm ; Width : 24.5 cm ; Depth : 14 cm 
 
-Close drawing by Jean Louis Prieur kept in the museum of the decorative arts of Paris (N° inv. 8522). 
 
For bronzes with canephorus children made by François Rémond for Dominique Daguerre : 
 
-Lantern delivered on July 2, 1784 for the salon de musique de Mesdames at the Château de Versailles. 
 
-Bronzes from the suite of commodes in Japanese lacquer stamped Weisweiler and delivered by Daguerre around 1792 for Ferdinand IV (inv. N° 1977.1.12). 
 
Our view : 
 
Our precious sconces evoke without a doubt the designs executed in the 1780s by Jean Louis Prieur. 
Until a few years ago this model was attributed to Pierre Gouthière but this exceptional quality, which made the reputation of François Rémond, combined with the comparative study of his other bronzes with canephorus children made for Dominique Daguerre, allow us to attribute this model to him. 
Whether in terms of design or quality of execution, our sconces represent the quintessence of bronze art under the reign of Louis XVI. 
 
*François Rémond (1742-1812) was a Parisian bronze smith who was considered one of the best founders, chasers and gilders of his time. 
He was born in Paris in 1747 and began his apprenticeship in 1763 before becoming a master in the guild of bronze founders in 1774. 
Throughout his career François Rémond will realize compositions of transitional style, neo-classical or even Turkish style, style of which he is one of the greatest representatives. 
His sconces, andirons, urns, torches and candelabras were much sought after and he became a supplier to Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette, who was very fond of his creations. 
The excellence of his production will make him obtain orders from the greatest Parisian merchant-merchants like Dominique Daguerre or Philippe Simon Poirier (1720-1785). 
The latter will use his bronzes on the furniture they order from the greatest cabinetmakers such as Jean Henri Riesener, Adam Weisweiler, or David Roentgen. 
For his works, Rémond works in particular with drawings of the sculptors Jean Louis Prieur (1732-1795) and Louis Simon Boizot (1743-1809). 
He also collaborated with the bronzer Pierre Gouthière for important works delivered in the years 1780-1785.