Pair Of Bronze Torchère Wall Sconces, Napoleon III Period – Second Empire.

A rare and spectacular pair of gilt and patinated bronze torchère wall sconces, of remarkable quality, dating from the Napoleon III period (Second Empire). Originally designed for gas lighting, they were later electrified for contemporary use. Each sconce consists of a fluted, torch-shaped stem, richly sculpted and held by a finely modeled, naturalistic hand with a black patina, grasping the stem with great anatomical precision. The whole rests on a draped wall base and rises into a ring decorated with rosettes, garlands, and foliage, surmounted by a foliate bobeche, now housing a flame-shaped bulb, perfectly in keeping with the original design. The quality of the casting, the crispness of the chasing, the richness of the decoration, and the sculptural strength of the hands clearly place this pair among the ambitious productions of the Second Empire, a period marked by a pronounced taste for spectacular decor, theatrical inspiration, and the staging of light. History and context of gas lighting: Introduced to Paris as early as the 1820s, gas lighting reached its peak during the 19th century and, under the Second Empire, became the primary means of lighting Parisian monuments, theaters, private mansions, and large buildings. It provided powerful, even, and spectacular lighting, particularly sought after in public spaces such as theaters, where light played a crucial role in the staging and decor. Light fixtures from this period were still designed for a single flame: torches, burners, ventilation holes, and specific proportions all attest to this. Electricity, although experimented with from the 1870s, only truly became widespread in the 1880s and 1890s, before gradually replacing gas at the turn of the 20th century, primarily for safety reasons. The fact that this pair of wall sconces was designed from the outset for gas is therefore a crucial chronological indicator, confirming a creation prior to the widespread adoption of electricity and perfectly consistent with a Napoleon III – Second Empire dating. Provenance: According to family tradition, this pair of wall sconces came from a Parisian theater, a perfectly credible hypothesis given: the initial gas-powered design, the spectacular and theatrical nature of the decoration, and the quality of execution, typical of commissions intended for major Parisian establishments in the 19th century. Comparison and rarity: The majority of wall sconces with hand motifs encountered today are 20th-century productions, often from the 1950s, designed specifically for electricity and primarily decorative in nature. This pair is clearly distinguished by: its original gas-powered design, its high-level sculptural execution, and its decorative vocabulary characteristic of the 19th century. Condition: Very good condition. Beautiful original patina preserved. Carefully rewired and fully functional. New bulbs included. Dimensions: Height without bulb: 50 cm Height with bulb: 60 cm Total depth: 25 cm