How do I mount these wall lights safely?

Mounting requires securing the backplate directly to wall studs or utilising heavy-duty cavity fixings suited to the substantial weight of cast bronze and brass. Professional electrical installation ensures that internal wiring connects securely to your domestic power supply without compromising the historic metalwork.

Were these originally for candles or electricity?

The earlier nineteenth-century variants were engineered exclusively for candles, utilising drip pans and sconce cups to catch wax. Later twentieth-century interpretations often arrived pre-wired or were subsequently adapted for electric illumination. Conversions generally preserve the exterior profile while housing modern internal wiring channels.

How do I distinguish Louis XVI from Rococo styles?

Louis XVI wall lights rely on strict symmetry, straight architectural lines, ribbons, and classical foliage. They present a controlled, balanced silhouette. Rococo appliques favour asymmetry, flamboyant C-scrolls, naturalistic asymmetry, and shell forms, creating a much more dynamic visual movement on the wall.