Antique Giltwood Wall Sconces 1900 - 1920

Name: Pair of Large Giltwood and Gesso Wall Sconces
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA873487
Price: 480 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing

ObjectWall Lights
Period1900 - 1920
StyleNeoclassical
MaterialGiltwood, Gesso
ColourGold
MotifsUrn backplate, Scroll arms, Acanthus leaf details, Draped swags
SizeH 50 cm (20 in) x W 40 cm (16 in) x D 23 cm (9 in)

This pair of Edwardian wall sconces in the Neoclassical style consists of three-arm light fittings made from giltwood and gesso with a rich gold finish. Each wall light features an urn-form backplate ornamented with draped swags and acanthus leaf details, complemented by curved scroll arms, turned candle cups, and flame finials. Minor losses to the gesso decoration appear across the surfaces, consistent with age and use. Each sconce measures 50 cm high, 40 cm wide, and 23 cm deep. These architectural wall lights mount securely on either side of a fireplace, above a sideboard, or flanking a hallway mirror to provide warm accent lighting in a traditional sitting room or dining room interior.

FAQs

Neoclassical giltwood sconces, originating in the late eighteenth century, feature classical architectural motifs inspired by ancient Greco-Roman design. Key elements include urn-shaped backplates, carved foliage such as acanthus leaves, draped swags, and symmetrical scrollwork arms.

These lighting fixtures were traditionally constructed from hand-carved hardwood or pine, coated with layers of gessoa mixture of chalk and glue size. The surface was finished with thin sheets of gold leaf applied via water-gilding or oil-gilding, supported by internal iron armatures for structural strength.

Authentic period pieces often reveal a red or grey clay base layer, known as bole, beneath areas of worn gold leaf. Inspecting the reverse side typically shows hand-carving marks, antique iron fixings, and natural shrinkage or fine cracking in the gesso surface.

Pairing carved sconces alongside a central mirror, decorative artwork, or above a sideboard creates balance and visual weight in formal dining rooms, foyers, or hallways. Incorporating electrified candles adds ambient wall illumination while maintaining historical visual appeal.

Giltwood surfaces should only be dusted gently using a soft, dry camel-hair brush or feather duster. Water and chemical cleaning agents must be avoided entirely, as moisture dissolves traditional gesso and strips the delicate gold leaf finish.

I M Chaney Antique Furniture

Pair of Large Giltwood and Gesso Wall Sconces

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