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Lot Essay
These wall-lights are based on a model made by Pierre Gouthière after wax models by François-Joseph Bélanger for the duchesse de Mazarin in 1781. An almost identical set of four wall-lights was offered Christie's New York, 31 March 2000, lot 339. A wall-light attributed to Gouthière of this model but lacking the ribbon-tied upper section is in the J. Paul Getty Museum, Malibu (illustrated in H. Ottomeyer, P. Pröschel et al., Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, vol. I, p. 243, fig. 4.5.12.).
Born in 1847, Alfred Beurdeley (d. 1919), took over his father's business in 1875. The shop was located at the Pavillon de Hanovre, while his workshops were at 20 and 24 rue Dautancourt, Paris. He specialised in producing the most luxurious articles to the highest quality and was pre-eminent among the Parisian ébenistes, especially lauded for the refinement of his ormolu, which was considered the best in Paris. As with these wall lights, many of his designs were taken from eighteenth century prototypes which were in fashion at the time. He exhibited at the major International Exhibitions, such as Paris in 1878 and Amsterdam in 1883, and was awarded the Gold Medal at the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1889.
Born in 1847, Alfred Beurdeley (d. 1919), took over his father's business in 1875. The shop was located at the Pavillon de Hanovre, while his workshops were at 20 and 24 rue Dautancourt, Paris. He specialised in producing the most luxurious articles to the highest quality and was pre-eminent among the Parisian ébenistes, especially lauded for the refinement of his ormolu, which was considered the best in Paris. As with these wall lights, many of his designs were taken from eighteenth century prototypes which were in fashion at the time. He exhibited at the major International Exhibitions, such as Paris in 1878 and Amsterdam in 1883, and was awarded the Gold Medal at the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1889.