A SET OF FOUR FRENCH ORMOLU THREE-LIGHT WALL-APPLIQUES

Designed in the Louis XV 'pittoresque' style popularised by Juste-Auréle Meissonier and Nicolas Pineau, these wall-lights are inspired by models initially designed by Charles Cressent. Similar wall-lights were subsequently supplied by the sculpteur, fondeur et ciseleur du roi Jacques Caffiéri (1678-1755). In the Inventory drawn up following his death in 1755, no.43 is described as 'un autre model double de bras de chemine ancien perroquets à deux branches', and this model was already listed in an earlier inventory of his stock in 1747. Two related pairs of parrot wall-lights were supplied to Madame Infante, Louise-Elizabeth of France, duchesse de Parma for the Palazzo di Colorno (A. Gonzalez-Palacios, Gli Arredi Francesi, Milan, 1995, no. 52, p.243). Another set of four wall-lights, dating like the present set to the late 19th century, sold Christie’s, London, 10 September 2013, lot 99 (£26,250).