Wall sconce - Gilt bronze - Antique bronze wall sconces

Pair of antique wall appliques with a mirror in gilded bronze finely chased and adorned with a floral bouquet.

France, Louis XVI taste, 19th century

Important pair of wall sconces with a mirror, in gilded bronze finely chased with gilding in a refined neoclassical setting.

Each sconce features an oval mirror with a molded frame and an inner edge decorated with a sequence of spherical elements.

The top is crowned by an elaborate bow and fluttering ribbons motif, from which two decorative elements descend along the sides of the frame.

The side structure is enriched with volutes, foliate motifs and phytomorphic ornamentation, while the lower part is characterized by a rich composition of carved leaves, flowers and botanical motifs.

Each mirror is flanked by two candle arms, also bronzelike with wooden ends of the characteristic curved shape, with fluted elements and finely carved terminals. The fittings and uprights are adorned with vegetal motifs, with acanthus leaves and palmette motifs, executed with notable attention to detail.

The gilding shows a patina and surface wear consistent with age, with tonal variations and abrasions that document its conservation history.

The mirrors show widespread oxidation and foxing, elements of particular interest for assessing their age and the conservation of the ensemble.

The pair stands out for the richness of the carving, the complexity of the ornamental composition and the perfect pendant/design symmetry, typical features of appliques intended for formal, representative interiors.

Materials: gilded bronze and carved and gilded wood; mirror.
Epoch: 19th century, in the French 17th-century style
State of preservation: good relative to age; wear and losses of gilding, oxidation of the mirrors and wear to the wooden elements. Present restorations and/or professional conservation interventions.