A pair of ormolu mounted porcelain wall sconces, Imperial Porcelain Manufactory, circa 1840s

elaborately decorated in rococo style, each applied with finely moulded figures of putti, fruits and flowers, mounted with three-light foliate candelabrum with scrolling branches, the metal wall mounts painted with inventory numbers in Cyrillic: G.D.I./ 3933 / G.14949, the other: G.D.P. / 3933 / G.14961, each also with Gatchina Palace labels with corresponding numbers

Gatchina Palace

These are very rare and unique sconces. Right sconce: One of the putti has a severed and re-glued hand. The same putti has a firing crack on the foot. There is a further very minor chip on the bottom of the sconce and a chip around the join of the right ormolu branch. Left sconce: The lower putti has a firing crack to his left shoulder, a hairline crack to his right arm. There is a firing crack just beneath the upper putti's right hand. Very minor chips to the porcelain around the join of the right ormolu branch. The central inner light cup is missing. Both sconces would benefit from a professional clean and for the ormolu mounts to be tightened.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The offered lot was produced by the Imperial Porcelain Manufactory especially for the Gatchina Palace. Stylistically the sconces can be attributed to the private rooms of Olga Alexandrovna, daughter of Alexander III and sister of the future Tsar Nicholas II. In the middle of nineteenth century the works on renovation and redesign of the Palace were completed with new rooms decorated in Historism style. Historism drew inspiration from the rich inheritance of the past and developed in response to the thirst for diversity of architectural and sculptural forms and more comfortable interiors, which satisfied the tastes and needs of the inhabitants.

In the Arsenal Block, where the apartments of Olga Alexandrovna were located, there were more than two hundred rooms, many of which were superlative examples of this style. The talented Russian architect Kuzmin redesigned the side wings of the palace and built the third floor onto them. He created suites of rooms, unmatched in their beauty and variety, for the Emperors Nicolas I, Alexander II, their spouses and children. Elements and forms of various European styles such as Renaissance, Gothic, Baroque, and Rococo were employed in the interior decoration.