Pair of Empire Bronze Arrow Wall Sconces, Sun King Effigy, by Lucien Gau, circa 1950

Each of these impressive bronze wall sconces takes the form of an arrow — the shaft serving as the principal arm of the applique — surmounted by a medallion bearing the effigy of Louis XIV, the Sun King. The iconographic precision is remarkable: the arrow motif, associated with Apollo the sun god and with royal authority, is perfectly matched to the effigy of the monarch who adopted the sun as his personal emblem and identified his reign with Apollonian grandeur. Cast in rich bronze and presented in the Empire style, these sconces stand 50 cm in height and are attributed to Lucien Gau, one of the most distinguished names in French decorative bronzework. They date from circa 1950, a period of renewed interest in Empire and Napoleonic decorative vocabulary.

The firm of Lucien Gau is one of the great names of French luxury bronze manufacturing, with roots in the 19th-century Parisian bronze trade and a continuous tradition of producing the finest cast and gilt bronze mounts, lighting, and decorative objects for the luxury decorating industry. Working alongside celebrated houses such as Maison Jansen and independent ateliers of equivalent standing, Lucien Gau supplied the grand interiors of the Belle Époque and 20th century with bronzework of impeccable craftsmanship. The Louis XIV — Roi Soleil — effigy that adorns these sconces invokes a rich iconographic tradition: the Sun King adopted Apollo and the solar disc as his personal emblems, commissioning the greatest artists of his era — Le Brun, Coysevox, Rigaud — to project his image as a monarch of quasi-divine authority. This solar iconography was enthusiastically revived during the Napoleonic Empire and again in the mid-20th century by decorators who drew on the full sweep of French monarchical grandeur.

This pair is in fine condition, their bronze casting sharp and the finish well preserved. The combination of the arrow form, the solar effigy, and the Empire decorative vocabulary makes them a highly distinctive and historically resonant choice. Their generous height and refined execution will make them focal points in any interior, from a classical salon to an Empire-furnished study or library.