A PAIR OF FRENCH ORMOLU THREE-LIGHT WALL-APPLIQUES

With their spread-winged dragons, these wall-lights are related to designs by the sculptor and designer Nicolas Pineau (1684-1754), specifically to a drawing of a similarly-rendered wall-light by Pineau dated circa 1725 (Kunstbibliothek, Berlin, inv. HDZ 3139) and are nearly identical to a model attributed to Charles Cressent in the style of Nicolas Pineau, circa 1720 (Museum Gulkenkian, Lisbon, inv. 1975, 71 no. 1058), both published in H. Ottomeyer and P. Pröschel, et al., Vergoldete Bronzen, vol. I, Munich, 1986, p. 66, figs. 1.9.18 and 1.9.19.
Over a century after its original creation, it is likely that several nineteenth century furniture makers had access to the Cressent wall-light as this model was replicated by both Christofle & Cie and François Linke. One pair by Christofle sold Christie’s, New York, 21 October 2008, lot 232 ($18,750), another pair by Linke sold Christie's, London, 14 November 2018, lot 717 (£50,000 ).