Pair Of Gilded Bronze Wall Sconces With Acanthus Leaves, France, Circa 1870

This elegant pair of chiseled and gilded bronze wall sconces in the Louis XV style featuresa dynamic base, entirely rendered in high relief, whosesilhouette follows the powerful swirl of leaves. The composition, with remarkable dynamism, unfolds around a large veined leaf thatserves as the central axis. Twolight arms, arranged at different heights in an asymmetrical balance characteristic of the Rocaille style, extend from these leaves. They curl into graceful volutes before supporting circular bowls withbeaded rims that hold leaf-adorned candle holders. The ensemble is enriched by anabundant decoration of cut-out foliage and clusters of cascading flowers, whosevigorous modeling accentuates the interplay of light and shadow. Thequality of the chisel work faithfully reproduces the effects of veins,indentations, and counter-curves characteristic of the great Parisian Rocaille bronzes of the mid-18th century. The gilding, warm andluminous, highlights the sculptural richness of the decoration.