A pair of large Baroque style polychrome-painted cast iron torchères French or Central European, late 19th century

Paint of later date. Restoration to one finger. In good overall condition.
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.
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The design concept of these torchères derives from those of ancient Greek hermai. Such human busts, or sometimes torsos, ending in simple square or rectangular pedestals originated in Greece and functioned as a form of apotropaic. These figures were rediscovered by artists of Renaissance and Mannerist Europe, who utilized such statues mostly as architectural elements and not as freestanding sculptures. During the Baroque era, artists created hermai almost exclusively with torsos as opposed to busts, and their bases became increasingly more elaborate. The use of richly-ornamented pedestals became prevalent in the late nineteenth century, when Neo Baroque became one of the most widely used styles by mainstream artists and architects in continental Europe. The present lot was probably made in France but it is also possible that these pieces originate from Germany or Austria, where cast iron had been a popular medium since the mid nineteenth century.