Pair Of Gilt Bronze Sconces With Ram's Head Masks, Louis XVI Style Circa 1850-1870

Pair of Gilt Bronze Sconces with Ram's Head Masks, Louis XVI Style Circa 1850-1870

Description:

This pair of gilt bronze wall sconces rises, on either side of a slender tapering shaft, into three scrolling candle arms enhanced with twisted reeding and stylized foliate friezes. The upper section of the shaft is flanked by a pair of confronted ram's head masks with finely chased curling horns, an emblematic motif of the neoclassical repertoire drawn from antiquity. A female mask animates the lower shaft, while small rosettes punctuate the scrolling of the candle arms.

The restraint of the line, the precision of the foliage, and the treatment of the mask recall the manner of the great Parisian bronze-workers of the late 18th century, such as Pierre Gouthière or Pierre-Philippe Thomire, whose workshops disseminated numerous models after designs by the ornamentalist Jean-Louis Prieur, a leading figure of the emerging Louis XVI style. Each sconce bears an engraved mark "…T.B.T.", a vestige of a stamp or workshop inventory number.

Wired for electricity, these sconces combine the elegance of the Louis XVI style with contemporary use, offering a refined source of light for a classical interior.

Technique:

Finely chased bronze, mercury-gilt. Slender shaft, three-light arms decorated with twisted reeding, stylized foliage, a mask, and rosettes. Engraved mark "…T.B.T." on each sconce.

Dimensions:

Height: 19 11/16 in (50 cm)

Width: 14 3/16 in (36 cm)

Depth from wall: 7 1/16 in (18 cm)

Overall height with candle sleeves: 22 1/16 in (56 cm)

Condition:

Good condition. Light wear to the gilding visible on the shafts, attesting to the age and authenticity of the original patina. Wired for electricity, ready for installation.