Pair of 19th Century Neptune & Mythical Grotesque Sea Creatures ‘Girandole’ Bronze & Gold Leaf Mirrored Wall Sconces

Description
Pair of 19th Century ‘Girandole’ Italian Mirrored Wall Sconces

A stunning twin arm pair of wall scones headed by Neptune, the sea god, and surrounded by lots of mythical grotesque sea creatures.

The central mirror is beveled

Stamped JJ

This type of small mirrors was used as sconces to support candles to light the corridors or the living rooms of valuable residences. The reflective surface of the mirror allowed a pleasant and functional diffusion of the light.

A girandole from French, in turn from Italian girandola) is an ornamental branched candlestick or light fixture consisting of several lights, often resembling a small chandelier. Girandoles came into use about the second half of the 17th century, and were commonly made and used in pairs.

A girandole has always been, comparatively speaking, a luxurious appliance for lighting, and in the great 18th-century period of French house decoration, the famous ciseleurs designed some exceedingly beautiful examples. A great variety of metals have been used for the purpose. Sometimes, as in the case of candlesticks, girandoles have been made in hardwoods. Gilded bronze has been a very frequent medium, but for table use silver is still the favorite material.

Girandoles, or lighting devices, have also been attached to looking glasses and furniture. Some popular mirrors, especially the convex style, and some large dressing glasses of the 19th century were known as “girandoles” because of the lighting devices mounted to their sides.

Condition

The condition is excellect for the period – foxing to the mirror plate

Drilled holes in the sconces, previouly have been electric

Measurement

Height:   50 cm   /   19.86 inches (each)

Width:   28 cm   /   11.02 inches (each)

Depth:   11 cm   /   4.33 inches (each)

Weight:   2.7 k.g. (each)