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-armed wall sconces, dating to the mid-19th century (Victorian / Napoleon III era). This set represents an excellent and well-documented international collaboration between the prestigious English metallurgical manufactory Elkington & Co. and the legendary French crystal Baccarat.
Structure, Casting and Support: The light arms, with spectacular visual impact, are made in fine gilded bronze. The casting features masterful chasing and finely hand-worked details. The metal framework bears the original Birmingham company’s hallmarks of Elkington & Co., including the numerical serial code "8" inside a diamond that attests to its manufacture around 1848-1850. The arms are magnificently anchored on original wall-mounted bases in noble, dense wood (ebony/macassar), entirely hand-carved with richly decorative period motifs perfectly preserved.
Crystal Components: Each sconce accommodates two tulip-shaped shades in fine leaded crystal. The tulips display a complex and spectacular ground-work that provides exceptional light refraction, amplified by the contrast with the gilded bronze and the dark wood background.
Crucial for authenticity and collecting value: all four glass panels bear the original factory circular stamp "Baccarat France", testifying to the set’s contemporaneous integrity.
Technical Sheet: Mount manufacturing: Elkington & Co. (Birmingham, England) Crystal manufacturing: Baccarat (France) Era: Circa 1848 - 1850 (Mid 19th Century) Configuration: Pair of sconces, two light arms per element (total 4 lights) Materials: Gilded bronze, faceted Baccarat crystal, heavy carved wooden base.
Condition: Excellent overall condition, structurally sound. Original gilding well preserved, wood with minor cracks, crystals intact without chipping, with legible marks.
The use of gilded bronze instead of common white metal places this pair in the top tier of Elkington’s art illumination production. The presence of the Baccarat mark on each tulip, together with the rarity of the mounting and the exceptional state of preservation of the carved wood, elevate this set to a museum-quality piece, ideal for elite collectors, international galleries, or prestigious auction houses.
Dimensions: Height 56 x 36.50 cm
Base 28 x 21.50 x 35 cm