CIRCA 1770

One of the most characteristic features of these elegant wall-lights are the oval medallions to the nozzles and the drip-pans. This unusual decorative motif appears on a small group of wall-lights with single and double scroll arms, occasionally also with portrait medallions to the backplate. They were executed around 1770 and are finished with broad chasing typical of this date. Interestingly, two pairs of related examples were supplied in 1804 to the chateau de Fontainebleau by the dealer Legendre, known as 'marchand d'occasion'. They were first hung in the bedroom of the Emperor but were apparently soon seperated. One pair pair is listed ion 1807 in the appartment of Madame Mère whilst the other is listed in 1810 in the appartment of Napoleon's brother Louis, King of Holland (J.P. Samoyault, Pendules et bronzes d'ameublement entrés sous le Premier Empire, Paris, 1989, p. 126).