Wall lamp (2) - Gilt bronze

A pair of Art Nouveau wall sconces in gilded bronze. They are designed in the characteristic organic style of around 1900. The pair consists of two allegorical masks or faces—a serene woman and a smiling man—intertwined with lush floral motifs such as poppies, sunflowers, and leaves. Characteristic of the Art Nouveau movement are the asymmetrical, sinuous lines (the famous whiplash style) and the fusion of the human figure with nature. In the hollows of the flowers there are openings that originally served as candle holders or were later adapted for early electric ambient lighting.