A pair of gilt-bronze wall lights, attributed to Pierre-François Feuchère Louis XVI, circa 1785

the backplates in the form of flaming vases with pendent flowers and leaves and each supporting three scrolled branches, the two lateral ones springing from eagle's heads holding a string of beads in their beaks, drilled for electricity

Purchased from Didier Aaron & Cie, Paris

In excellent condition. Minor rubbing the gilding of extremeties. One with crack to lower foliate pendant. Drilled for electricity. A very good example of their type.
"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."

Daniel Alcouffe et al., Gilt-bronzes in the Louvre, 2004, Dijon, p. 178, no. 92
Hans Ottomeyer/PeterPröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, p.261, fig. 4.8.3 and 4.8.5

With their distinctive flaming vases and scrolled branches springing from eagle's, these wall-lights heads directly correspond to the documented oeuvre of the ciseleur-doreur Pierre François Feuchère (1737-1823).
They are very closely related to four wall lights and the branches of a pair of candelabra supplied by Feuchère in 1784 to the sisters of Louis XVI for the grand salon at château de Bellevue. The four wall lights are now in the Philadelphia Museum of Art and illustrated in Ottomeyer / Pröschel, op.cit., page 261, fig. 4.8.5. The candelabra are in the Louvre and illustrated in Alcouffe, op. cit., page 178-1.
Two other pairs of candelabra with virtually identical scrolled branches to the wall lights in Philadelphia and the candelabra in the Louvre, formerly in the Collection of the Earls of Rosebery, sold, Sotheby's, 17th April 1964, lots 24 and 25, where attributed to Feuchère or Forestier, are now thought to have been part of the garniture supplied by Feuchère and one of the Rosebery pairs is now in the J. Paul Getty Museum in Malibu. It is illustrated in Ottomeyer / Pröschel, op.cit., page 261, fig.4.8.3.

Another almost identical pair was sold Sotheby's, London, 9th July 1976, lot 23

Pierre-François Feuchère (1727-1823)
Feuchère was from a prominent family of bronziers who supplied various members of the French Royal family. He was sworn into the guild of ciseleurs-doreurs in 1767 and his business survived the Revolution and continued through the Empire and Restauration periods.