A rare pair of verre églomisé vermillion and gilt decorated wall appliques early 18th century

decorated with chinoiserie scenes, with brass candle-arms

Mirror 1: The cresting has minor paint losses around the edges and some minor chips. The central plate also has some losses to decoration with some disclouration. The bottom plate is broken and with a small section of glass missing. There are also losses to paint and decoration. The drip pan has been drilled for electricity. Mirror 2: The top plate is cracked and has some discolouration and losses to paint. The central and lower plates are also discoloured and with some loss to paint and the candle-arm has been drilled for electricity. They are rare and unuusual and highly decorative.
"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."

These wall sconces feature the process for reverse-decorating glass with metal foil and paint which is thought to have derived its name from a French framer Jean-Baptistè Glomy (d. 1786) who rediscovered the technique in the late 18th century. Although verre églomisé is typically associated with the borders of late 17th/early 18th century mirrors, this method of decoration was practised during the high renaissance as demonstrated by the celebrated Vyvyan Salt recorded in the collection at the Victorian and Albert museum, London (See Percy Macquoid and Ralph Edwards, The Dictionary of English Furniture, 1954 rev. ed., 3 vols., Vol. III, p. 363).

Whilst the verre églomisé borders found on mirrors contemporary to the present lot are characterised by Berainesque influenced designs, the decoration here is more typical of the Chinoiserie motifs applied to English and continental japanned cabinets of the same period. One of the principal design sources for japanning was John Stalker and George Parker's Treatise of Japanning, Varnishing and Guilding published in 1688 and the decoration on the appliqués here appear to be a rare example of the verre églomisé technique expressed in this style.