What is a gilt brass double sconce?

A gilt brass double sconce is a wall-mounted lighting fixture featuring two arms and a gold-coloured metallic finish, primarily produced in France during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. These pieces were designed to hold candles or later, electric bulbs, utilising styles ranging from simple classical forms to ornate Rococo and Empire revivals.

How were these wall lights used?

These fixtures were mounted to interior walls in pairs or sets to provide ambient illumination along hallways, reception rooms, and parlours. The twin arms allowed a pair of candles to multiply the available light within a space before the widespread adoption of electricity.

Are these sconces wired for electricity?

Many surviving examples have been adapted over time, with various pieces listed as rewired for modern electrical use while retaining their historic aesthetic. Buyers encounter both electric wall sconces from the mid-twentieth century and earlier pieces converted from candlelight.

How do I identify French Empire style?

French Empire style sconces draw upon classical antiquity and the Napoleonic era, displaying formal symmetry, architectural lines, and motifs like wreaths and urns. They contrast with the flowing, asymmetrical curves and organic scrollwork found in Rococo revival pieces from the same broader periods.