CIRCA 1770

Details

A PAIR OF LATE LOUIS XV ORMOLU TWIN-LIGHT WALL-LIGHTS
CIRCA 1770
Each with fluted tapering back plate surmounted by a vase issuing the scrolling foliated wrapped branches, with fluted drip-pans and nozzles and hung with garlands
16½ in. (42 cm.) high; 11½ in. (29 cm.) wide; 6 in. (15 cm.) deep (2)

Provenance

Acquired from Meylan, Geneva, 1956.

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 20% on the buyer's premium.

Brought to you by

Victoria von Westenholz

vvonwestenholz@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2343

Lot Essay

These elegant wall-lights are embellished with heavy laurel swags and are closely related to a design by the ciseleur, sculpteur and modeleur Jean-Louis Prieur (1732-1795) executed around 1770 (H. Ottomeyer/P. Proschel, 'Vergoldete Bronzen' , Munich, 1986, vol. I, p. 172, fig. 3.5.1). Through his designs, Prieur played a leading role in the development of the early Neo-Classical style and his position as avant-garde designer gained him numerous Royal commissions. These included bronze ornaments supplied in 1774 for Louis XVI's coronation coach and in 1765 he provided designs for furniture and other decorative objects for the Royal Castle, Warsaw (S. Eriksen, Early Neo-Classicism in France, London, 1974, p. 217).

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