Pair of gilded bronze wall sconces, late 19th century, France Dimensions: cm H 32.5 x W 32 x D 15 Price: Upon request Item accompanied by certificate of authenticity This rare pair of gilded bronze wall sconces, made in France in the late 19th century, is designed in the Louis XVI-inspired "goût Grec" style, with a refined female figure from which two elegant, chased scroll arms depart. Each sconce features a central chased stem in the form of a siren, which extends downwards into a leafy termination, while the two lateral arms, modeled as vegetal shoots, support finely chased bobeches and candle holders adorned with palmettes and other phytomorphic elements. The female figure, treated as an elegant siren with flowing, gathered hair, presents slender lines and soft modeling, while the acanthus branch-shaped arms perfectly frame the central body, creating a harmonious and picturesque ensemble. The model is based on the famous Louis XVI period model attributed to Robert-Joseph Auguste, a master goldsmith active between 1757 and 1801, known for the extraordinary quality of his bronze mounts for royal silverware. The structure and pose of the figure directly refer to the drawings of Jean-François Forty published in 1768 in "L'Usage des Orfèvres et des Fondeurs," where, in the "Cahier des six lustres," a chandelier with a similar siren supporting leafy arms appears. Seventeenth-century examples of the same model are preserved at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and in the renowned Wrightsman Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which have contributed to establishing this iconographic type as one of the most sought-after of French neoclassical taste. These sconces testify to a high-quality neoclassical revival, with sharp casting, meticulous chasing, and rich gilding that imparts depth to the surfaces and ornamental details, making them particularly suitable for classic or eclectic interiors.
Period: Second half of the 19th century