Pair of Antique French Bronze Wall Sconces, Renaissance Style Lion Mask and Wreath — France, 19th Century

The Renaissance revival that swept through French decorative arts in the second half of the nineteenth century reached back two centuries further than the neoclassical styles that had preceded it — past Rome and Greece to the Italian cinquecento, with its masks, its laurel wreaths, its grotesque ornament and its confident belief that the human face belonged on every surface. The bronziers who worked in this manner were drawing on the vocabulary of Francis I's court at Fontainebleau, where Italian craftsmen had brought the full Renaissance repertoire to France for the first time, and where the lion mask had become one of the defining motifs of French decorative ambition.

This pair is French, nineteenth century, cast in bronze, each sconce built around a central boss depicting a lion mask set within a laurel wreath — the face modelled with open mouth and full mane, the wreath of leaves and berries encircling it and extending into the scrolling arms that carry the candle cups. Two arms sweep outward from the wreath, each chased along its length with acanthus ornament and terminating in a turned urn-form socket cup with a beaded rim. The bronze carries a warm, slightly varied patina across both sconces, the kind that builds over a century of indoor life and cannot be replicated on a new casting.

These were kept with care across more than a hundred years — the lion masks crisp, the wreath modelling sound, the patina consistent and attractive across the pair. One candle cup requires refixing before use, as noted; otherwise both sconces are complete and ready to hang. Non-electric candelabra sconces, taking standard taper candles.

They arrive professionally packed and fully insured. All duties and import charges are our responsibility — you pay nothing beyond the listed price. Returns are accepted within 30 days.

DETAILS:
Size: each — Height 20 cm (7.9 in) · Width 23.5 cm (9.3 in)
Material: patinated bronze
Style/Period: French Renaissance Revival, 19th century
Candle arms: two per sconce, four total — non-electric; takes standard taper candles
Lampshades: not included
Shipping: professionally packed, fully insured, worldwide — all import duties paid by us, nothing to settle on delivery
Condition: good antique condition; lion masks and wreath modelling crisp; patina consistent and attractive across the pair; one candle cup requires refixing before use, as noted
Returns: accepted within 30 days

Read our condition standard. Please ask if you need additional photographs or measurements.

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