A Pair of Louis XVI Period (1774 - 1793) Wall - Lights. 18th century.

A pair of chiselled and gilt bronze two light sconces called "au souffleur" representing the putti playing the flute. The sconces are decorated with acanthus leaves, rosettes, ribbon bows and with a pine cone in the lower part. Mercury original gilding.

After a design of 1787 by Jean Hauré, sculptor in charge of the furniture and decoration for the French Crown from 1784, ordered for the Château of Saint Cloud. A copy at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Similar model delivered to the Garde-Meuble de la Couronne in 1787.

Another suite of four wall - lights at the Metropolitan Museum, New York.

Jean Hauré was the member of the Academy of Saint Luc and became the master founder and manufacturer of the furniture and gilt bronze art items for the Garde-Meuble de la Couronne from 1785 to 1788. He was also supplier of a suite of gilt bronze wall - lights for the Cards Room of Marie-Antoinette in Compiègne.

Reference "Vergoldete Bronzen" par H. Ottomeyer et P. Proschel. Munich:1986 (288).

France.

18th century.