Vintage Cherub Sconces
Vintage cherub sconces bring sculptural charm and period illumination to a room through cast metal and carved wood figures.
Vintage Cherub Sconces
Vintage cherub sconces are decorative wall lights and wall brackets featuring putti or cherub figures, designed to illuminate period interiors. When searching for vintage cherub sconces, a buyer encounters wall lights, wall brackets, and light fittings originating from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The versions most commonly met on this page are pairs of wall sconces and wall lights rendered in gilt metal, brass, and carved wood.
The styles span Rococo Revival, French Rococo Revival, French Chateau, Baroque Revival, French Art Nouveau, French Neoclassical, Louis XVI, and Grand Regency. These decorative pieces function as both lighting and wall sculpture, often configured as single, twin, or multi-branch light fittings.
How they were made
Maker materials recorded in these pieces include glass, brass, gilt bronze, silver plate, giltwood, ormolu, bronze, carved wood, and plaster. Metal pieces utilise casting techniques in brass, bronze, and gilt bronze, often incorporating ormolu or silver plating for surface finish.
Carved wooden examples utilise carved wood and giltwood, sometimes rendered in the mid seventeenth century Louis XIV manner. Glass components appear as lustre elements and shades attached to the metal light fittings.
Vintage Cherub Sconces Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for vintage cherub sconces among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Periods represented span from the nineteenth century through the nineteen-thirties, incorporating styles from Rococo Revival to French Neoclassical.
What varies in quality
Quality varies between pieces according to the depth of detail in the carving of the wooden figures or the crispness of the casting in the bronze and ormolu mounts. Hand-carved giltwood and chased gilt bronze display greater articulation in the cherub forms than mass-produced brass or plated alternatives.
The weight of the materials, the integration of matching branches, and the sophistication of the revival style - ranging from French Rococo Revival to Baroque Revival - distinguish standard production from more ambitious decorative lighting.
The Vintage Cherub Sconces Glossary
- Sconce
- A wall-mounted lighting fixture designed to hold candles or electric bulbs. These fixtures project outward from the wall surface to distribute light.
- Putto
- A plump, naked male child figure frequently depicted in classical art and revival decorative objects. In these pieces, putti serve as structural or decorative supports for the light branches.
- Ormolu
- Finely ground high-carat gold applied to a bronze object using a mercury amalgamation process. This technique produces a durable golden finish characteristic of French luxury metalwork.
- Giltwood
- Wood that has been coated with a thin layer of gold leaf or gold paint. This treatment provides a reflective surface on carved wall brackets and appliqués.
- Lustre
- A glass pendant or hanging prism attached to a light fitting to reflect illumination. Lustre wall lights incorporate these glass elements alongside metal cherub figures.
Vintage Cherub Sconces: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I wire vintage sconces?
Vintage wall lights and sconces generally require professional rewiring to meet modern electrical safety standards. An electrician can adapt old fittings for contemporary wall circuits.
Many pieces accommodate standard internal wiring channels or can be mounted over existing electrical junction boxes with proper mounting brackets.
What periods do these sconces come from?
The pieces listed span the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century, specifically covering decades from the eighteen-eighties to the nineteen-thirties. Revival styles often draw inspiration from earlier periods like the seventeenth century.
Dates in the listings reflect either the period of manufacture or the stylistic manner in which the object was created.
Are these lights sold in pairs?
Many of the wall sconces and wall lights appear as matched pairs or sets of four. Pairs allow for symmetrical placement on either side of a fireplace, mirror, or doorway.
Single brackets and specific clock mounts also occur within the selection, offering options for asymmetrical arrangements.
What is the difference between brass and ormolu?
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc used directly for cast or spun metal components. Ormolu involves a bronze base finished with a layer of gold.
Ormolu exhibits a deeper, more golden lustre compared to polished or patinated brass.