Pair of Two-Light Bronze Sconces with Arrow and Bacchante Mask Decoration, Neoclassical Style, Lucien Gau, Circa 1900

Each sconce is organised around a vertical shaft depicting an arrow, the fletching finely chased at the top and the point directed downwards. At the centre, a mask of a bacchante crowned with vine leaves and clusters, with an expressive face tied with a ribbon, serves as the starting point for the two light arms in graceful curves, ending in moulded dishes and candle nozzles fitted with faux candles. The arrow motif and the antique mask belong to the Neoclassical vocabulary inherited from the Louis XVI style, here interpreted by the bronziers of the turn of the 20th century, a period of excellence for the Parisian founders who re-edited the great 18th-century models with virtuosity. Condition report: Good overall condition. Silvered bronze with a fine soft patina, crisp chasing, old faux candles. Wiring to be checked before use. A refined pair on either side of a mirror, a fireplace or a headboard.