Gold Cherub Sconces
Gold cherub sconces bring exuberant figural lighting to a room, pairing winged figures with decorative arms for candles or bulbs.
Gold Cherub Sconces
Gold cherub sconces take the form of wall lights, wall brackets, and light fittings featuring winged putti figures rendered in gilt finishes. These pieces emerge predominantly from nineteenth-century French and Italian workshops, alongside early twentieth-century examples.
Beyond standard wall lights, related forms appear on this page including giltwood bracket mirrors, decorative clock mounts, and candlesticks adapted for wall placement. These variations maintain the central motif of the cherub combined with gilded surfaces.
Distinctions in quality
The richness and preservation of the original gilding, whether fire-gilt ormolu or layered leaf upon wood, elevate the piece. Heavier gauge metals and substantial carved timber indicate superior construction compared to lighter commercial castings.
Every single cherub here has a job, whether hoisting a candle branch or holding up a mirror.
The Gold Cherub Sconces Glossary
- Ormolu
- Finely ground high-carat gold applied to a bronze base using a mercury amalgamation technique, or modern electroplating mimicking this finish. It provides a durable golden lustre on nineteenth-century French lighting.
- Putti
- Plural of putto, depicting chubby male infants often winged, frequently found in Renaissance and Revival art. In these sconces, they support the branches or mount the wall.
- Giltwood
- Timber, commonly lime or pine, coated with gesso and layered with gold leaf. This method creates a brilliant decorative surface for mirrors and wall brackets.
- Appliqué
- A French term used interchangeably with wall sconce or decorative wall light fitting. It denotes a fixture designed to attach directly to a vertical surface.
- Lustre
- A glass pendant or drop hung from a light fitting to refract the illumination. These appear on selected early twentieth-century examples.
Gold Cherub Sconces: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I wire old sconces?
Most antique wall lights arrive without modern electrical wiring and require a qualified electrician to adapt them safely for domestic use. Many pairs originally held candles and were later converted.
Wiring typically involves running discreet flex through the backplate and arms while preserving the external ormolu or giltwood structure intact.
Are these sconces French or Italian?
Makers in both France and Italy produced significant numbers of gilt metal and carved wooden cherub wall lights during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. French pieces often lean towards Louis XIV and Rococo Revival styles.
Italian workshops frequently employed carved giltwood combined with Murano glass elements or elaborate Baroque ornamentation.
How are wall sconces mounted?
Sconces attach to walls via a rear plate, bracket, or screw holes integrated into the back casting or wooden mount. The weight of the piece dictates the required wall fixings.
Heavy gilt bronze or carved timber fittings need secure wall plugs or direct fixing into studs to support the weight safely.
How do I clean gilded surfaces?
Dust gilded bronze, ormolu, and giltwood gently using a soft, dry brush or microfibre cloth. Avoid abrasive cleaners, moisture, and chemical polishes which strip the gold leaf or ormolu surface.
Careful maintenance preserves the original patination and protects the delicate gilding accumulated over the centuries.