Pair of neo-classical sconces in gilded bronze, Paris circa 1770

Rare pair of two-arm wall lights in finely chiseled and mercury-gilded bronze.
The quiver barrels decorated with asparagus are finished with acanthus caps in the lower parts and with Doric capitals in the upper parts.
They are topped with antique cassolettes with garlands of flowers and pine cone tops.
Two arms of scrolling lights highlighted with acanthus spring from the middle of the barrels.
They support cups with acanthus bases in which bobeches in the shape of Medici vases are positioned.
In the middle, a large garland of laurel leaves pierces the capital and its two ends rest on each side on the scrolls.


Very good state of conservation, the cups and bobeches pierced for electrification.

Exceptional qualities of original carving and mercury gilding.

Parisian work from the transition of the Louis XV and Louis XVI periods around 1770-1775, based on a probable drawing by Jean Charles Delafosse.


Dimensions:

Height: 42 cm; Width: 30 cm

Our opinion :


Our pair of wall lights derives from a model delivered by Quentin-Claude Pitoin (1725-1777) to the Prince of Condé around 1765.
This pair, which is today kept at the Louvre Museum under the inventory number OA 5190, was probably made from a drawing by the ornamentalist Jean Charles Delafosse (1734-1789).
The famous bronze maker Philippe Caffieri (1714-1774) delivered several very similar pairs to the King of Poland in 1770.
Our model has the same base, but with a variation on the barrels where the rams' heads are replaced by Doric capitals.
This variant, which is very rare, indicates a move towards neo-classicism.
We can therefore date our pair to the 1770s, its assembly and its great qualities of gilding and carving point us towards one of the two great bronze makers that we have just mentioned.