Pair of Large Decorative Wrought and Gilded Iron Wall Lights in the Form of Flower Bouquets, French Work, Circa 1940

A stunning pair of large decorative wall lights in wrought and gilded iron, each fashioned as an overflowing bouquet of flowers, the blooms and leaves modelled with remarkable naturalistic freedom. The gilding animates the forged surfaces with a warm radiance, while the floral composition — featuring roses, tulips, or mixed blooms alongside scrolling foliage — achieves a plastic opulence that transforms each sconce from a mere light fitting into an autonomous work of decorative sculpture.

The 1930s and 1940s witnessed a remarkable flowering of French decorative ironwork, inspired in part by the legacy of the great Art Nouveau blacksmiths such as Edgar Brandt and Louis Majorelle, and channelled towards a more naturalistic, sometimes neo-Baroque expression in the hands of the following generation. Floral sconces in wrought iron were particularly fashionable for the decoration of salons, dining rooms, and grand halls, providing a complement to the elaborate gilded plasterwork that characterised the more opulent French interiors of the period. The gilding of the iron — achieved through gold leaf or bronze powder — further enriched the decorative effect.

Presented as a pair, these sconces offer the possibility of a truly spectacular effect in any room of sufficient scale. Whether flanking a fireplace, a mirror, or a pair of windows, they will illuminate and animate the space with the warm glow of their gilded blooms, bringing the grandeur of a French hôtel particulier to any discerning interior.