Large Pair Of Louis XVI Wall Lights With Rams In Chiseled And Gilded Bronze, Circa 1770

Large Pair of Louis XVI Wall Lights with Rams in Chiseled and Gilded Bronze, circa 1770
A large and exceptional pair of three-light wall sconces, crafted in finely chiseled and gilded bronze, featuring a magnificent period gilding. They are adorned with acanthus leaves holding garlands of oak leaves, united by a ram's head and topped with a flame pot.
This magnificent French work fits perfectly within the neoclassical style of the 1770s. It is reminiscent of a design attributed to the famous architect and ornamentalist Jean-Charles Delafosse (cfr. H. Ottomeyer, P. Pröschel et al., Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, Vol. I, p.186, fig. 3.9.5.).
Dimensions: Height: 20.5 inches. Width: 15.4 inches. Depth: 11 inches.
Our wall sconces are in excellent condition and have been drilled for electrification. They are presented in their original gilding with some minor wear that adds to the charm of these 18th-century French objects.
A pair of three-light wall sconces, with the shaft adorned in the center with a ram's head, is preserved at the Musée du Louvre and illustrated in ibid p.186, fig. 3.9.2. Other examples with two lights are listed at the Residenz in Munich.
Jean-Charles Delafosse (1734-1789) was a French architect, ornamentalist, painter, and engraver. His most famous collection of engravings is the Nouvelle iconologie historique, first published in 1768 and subsequently reissued and modified many times. He was an important theorist of the Louis XVI "carré" style and the early neoclassical period.
His influence can be seen in the decoration of Parisian houses during the 1760s-1780s.