Pr. French Ormolu Japonisme Sconces/Wall Light, att Barbedienne, style of Lievre

Description

An Unusual Pair of French 19th Century Japonisme Ormolu/Gilt Bronze Wall Appliques/ Sconces with Crystal Bobeches, att. F. Barbedienne and att. to the French Designer: Edouard Lievre This unusual pair of wall appliques is constructed with rectangular backplates set against red velvet grounds. Each backplate is framed by a molded ormolu border with a repeating geometric pattern in relief, enclosing pierced panels cast with flowering branches, Birds, and foliage. At the top and bottom, stylized openwork brackets are centered by blossom mounts. From the center projects a three branch candelabrum formed as intertwined tree limbs. The branches extend outward in curved lines and are cast with cherry blossoms and leaves in relief. Each arm terminates in a cylindrical candle socket fitted with a clear cut crystal bobeche. The bobeches are cut with scalloped edges and faceted surfaces, forming a circular drip pan beneath the sockets. The pair is attributed to Ferdinand Barbedienne and Most Probably Designed by Édouard Lièvre. Barbedienne operated a Paris foundry known for high quality bronze casting and gilding during the nineteenth century, producing decorative objects and mounts for luxury furnishings. Lièvre was a designer associated with the Japonism movement, creating works that incorporated Japanese motifs into French decorative arts. Barbedienne’s workshop specialized in precise casting and mercury gilding, resulting in surfaces with consistent matte and burnished contrasts. The ormolu on these appliques displays defined modeling in the blossoms, branches, and pierced panels, with crisp edges and uniform gilding. Lièvre’s designs often adapted natural forms such as flowering branches into functional objects, a feature reflected in the sculptural structure of these sconces. The integration of pierced panels, floral mounts, and projecting branch arms corresponds to decorative schemes associated with Japonism production in Paris during the second half of the nineteenth century. Dimensions: Overall Height with Candle Nozzles (can be adjustable): 20" Width: 11.5" Depth: 11.5" Backplate Dimensions: 14.5"High x 6.5" wide

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