This pair of giltwood sconces dates to circa 1815, at the end of the period of French history when Napoleon was the emperor, known as the Empire Style. As Napoleon envisioned himself as a contemporary to leaders of ancient civilizations, most noticeably Caesar (of the Roman Empire), furniture and accessories from this period often featured motifs from antiquity, in this case, the eagles with wings displayed at the top of these sconces.

The eagles sit on gadrooned perches above leaf cups with fluted half-columns that terminate in an acanthus noix. Two foliate arms emanate from a floret beneath an acanthus leaf on the center of each column. The curvaceous arms are topped by a scalloped saucer bobeche and a short capital with an undulating rim. At 25 inches tall with an arm span of six and a half inches, our French Empire eagle sconces would make a fantastic wall-mounted light source for a smaller area such as a hallway, bathroom, or office.

CONDITION: Good antique condition, with very light nicks, losses, and rubs to gilding. Rigged in the back for hanging purposes. Not currently wired for electricity