Pair of French Gilt Bronze Wall Sconces, Louis XVI Bow and Ram's Head — France, Early 20th Century

The Louis XVI interior had a particular genius for turning ornament into meaning. The bow — knotted ribbon, trailing ends — was not decoration for its own sake: it was the symbol of the bonds that hold things together, of grace under constraint, and it appeared on everything from chair backs to clock cases to wall sconces in the apartments of Versailles and the hôtels particuliers that took their cue from it. Paired with the ram's head, emblem of strength and classical authority, the combination gave a sconce a full vocabulary: elegance above, gravitas below.

This pair is French, early twentieth century, cast in gilt bronze with the original gilding intact across both sconces. Each piece is built around a slender tapered backplate — the quiver form borrowed directly from the Louis XVI repertoire — from which two scroll arms sweep outward, their surfaces chased with acanthus and scaled ornament that catches the light along the curve. At the crown, a cast ribbon bow sits above a knotted tie, the loops open and the ends trailing freely — note how the ribbon is modelled with individual cord strands rather than as a flat band, the depth of casting that separates a foundry working from life from one working from a simplified pattern. Ram's head mounts appear at the arm junctions, their horns curling into the scroll of the arms themselves. The original gilding has the warm, slightly uneven tone that comes from age rather than from a factory.

Whoever lit their rooms with these before you kept them in very good order. The gilding is sound and largely original across both sconces; the electrics are in full working order. They arrive fully rewired and ready to use — a pair scaled for a dining room, a bedroom, or either side of a large mirror.

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 43 cm (16.9 in)
Material: gilt bronze, original gilding
Style/Period: Louis XVI style, French, early 20th century
Sockets: two per sconce, four total — fully rewired and ready to use
Lampshades: not included
Shipping: professionally packed, fully insured, worldwide — all import duties paid by us, nothing to settle on delivery
Condition: very good; original gilding sound and warm across both sconces; electrics in full working order
Returns: accepted within 30 days

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

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