Pair Of Gilt Bronze And Crystal Sconces With Ribbon-tied Decoration, Louis XVI Style

Pair of Gilt Bronze and Crystal Sconces with Ribbon-Tied Decoration, Louis XVI Style, Attributed to Baccarat

Description:
This pair of finely chased gilt bronze sconces is built around a fluted shaft, tied at its base with a ribbon whose ends twist and fall gracefully, an emblematic motif of the Louis XVI ornamental repertoire. From the shaft spring two scrolling candle arms, ending in vase-shaped nozzles decorated with water leaves, set on wide gilt bronze drip pans topped with scalloped crystal bobèches.

Above and below the arms, slender curved branches carry a rich crystal ornamentation: garlands of cut beads, rosettes, and half-pear drops, some in smoky glass, which bring the whole to life with shifting reflections and soften its outline.

Made in the late 19th century, these sconces reflect the favor the Louis XVI style then enjoyed in refined interiors, and the combination of gilt bronze and crystal that built the reputation of the great French lighting houses.

Wired for electricity, they provide a sparkling, warm light, equally suited to a classical or contemporary interior.

Technique:
Chased and gilt bronze. Fluted shaft tied with a ribbon, two scrolling candle arms, vase-shaped nozzles with water leaves. Crystal pendants: cut beads, rosettes, and half-pear drops, some smoky. Scalloped crystal bobèches. Attributed to Baccarat. French work, late 19th century.

Dimensions:
Height: 21 1/4 in (54 cm)
Width: 11 13/16 in (30 cm)
Depth from wall: 7 1/16 in (18 cm)

Condition:
Good condition, attractive gilding. Wired for electricity, ready for installation.

Biography:
Founded in 1764 in Lorraine under the authorization of King Louis XV, the Baccarat glassworks became a crystal manufactory in 1816 under Aimé-Gabriel d'Artigues. Supplier to royal and imperial courts, the manufactory established itself in the 19th century as one of the most prestigious in Europe, repeatedly honored at the Universal Exhibitions. Its lighting, pairing cut crystal with gilt bronze mounts, today graces palaces, historic residences, and major collections.