Baccarat - Wall sconce (2) - Gilt bronze - Elkington & Co.

Rare Pair of Two-Light Wall Sconces in Golden Bronze – Elkington & Co. and Baccarat Crystal, Mid-19th Century 1848-1850
Extraordinary and rare pair of two-arm wall sconces, dating from the mid-19th century (Victorian/Napoleon III era). This set represents an excellent and well-documented international collaboration between the prestigious English metallurgical manufacturer Elkington & Co. and the legendary French crystal Baccarat. Structure, Casting, and Support: The light arms, of spectacular visual impact, are made in precious gilt bronze. The casting features masterful chasing and finely hand-worked details. The metal frame bears the original Birmingham company marks Elkington & Co., including the numerical serial code "8" inside a diamond shape that attests to manufacture circa 1848-1850. The arms are magnificently anchored to original wall bases in dense noble wood (ebony/mahogany), all hand-carved with rich period decorative motifs perfectly preserved. Crystal Components: Each sconce holds two tulip-shaped shades in fine lead-crystal. The tulips feature a complex and spectacular faceted workmanship that ensures exceptional light refraction, amplified by the contrast with the gilt bronze and the dark wooden background. Essential for authenticity and collectible value: all four glass pieces bear the factory circular original stamp “Baccarat France,” testifying to the set’s contemporaneous integrity.
Technical Sheet:
- Mounting manufacture: Elkington & Co. (Birmingham, England)
- Crystal manufacture: Baccarat (France)
- Era: Circa 1848 - 1850 (Mid-19th Century)
- Configuration: Pair of wall sconces, two light arms per element (total 4 lights)
- Materials: Gilt bronze, faceted Baccarat crystal, heavy carved wooden base
- Condition: Excellent overall, structurally intact. Original gilding well preserved, wood with small cracks; crystals intact without chips, with legible marks.
The use of gilt bronze instead of common white metal places this pair at the top tier of Elkington’s art lighting production. The presence of the Baccarat mark on each individual tulip, combined with the rarity of the mounting and the exceptional state of preservation of the carved wood, elevates this set to a museum-quality piece, ideal for elite collectors, international galleries, or prestigious auction houses.
Measurements: Height 56 x 36.50 cm
Base 28 x 21.50 x 35 cm