Pair of Louis XV Transitional Ormolu Chinoiserie Wall Lights

A quite superb pair of French Louis XVIth transitional ormolu and white marble figural candelabra. Set on a square ormolu base with white marble socle. Each figure beautifully sculpted and hand finished by the Graveur after the fire gilding process. Both boy and girl hold an ormolu flower pot in which are two ormolu candle holders in the form of tulips. While unsigned, the form may be attributed to Prieur . Very fine condition with superb and original fire/mercury gilt ormolu and retaining hand cut screws and threads. Circa 1770. 16 inches tall by 4 inches square at base. JEAN LOUIS PRIER (le vieux) b Paris, 1732–6; d Paris, 6 May 1795). French sculptor, bronze-caster, designer and engraver. He may have been trained by his cousin JEAN-JOSEPH DE SAINT-GERMAIN. Prieur was accepted as a sculptor in the Académie de Saint-Luc, Paris, in 1765 and became a master bronze-caster and chaser in 1769. In 1766 he collaborated with Victor Louis and Philippe Caffiéri.

A fine pair of antique French porcelain and fire gilded ormolu candelabra. Superb quality ormolu and very finely hand painted celeste porcelain. The candleholders are of celeste porc...