Ref. 2195

G. de Kerveguen

Sculptor ( ?-1897)

“Triton and Mermaid” Sconces

France
Circa 1890

Signed G. de Kerveguen

Bronze

Height : 56 cm (22 in.) ; Width : 52 cm (20,4 in.) ; Depth : 33 cm (12,9 in.)

A rare pair of wall sconces in patinated, silvered and gilded bronze depicting a Triton and a Mermaid as a matching set, each sconce featuring three light arms.

The pair, remarkably rendered in the round, adopts the same dynamic and picturesque pose, blowing into a conch shell. The figures, rendered with vigorous modeling, seem to emerge from aquatic foliage, undulating stems, and plant scrolls that ingeniously form the light arms. The contrast between the warm, nuanced brown patina of the bodies and the brilliant gilding of the foliage enhances the sculptural richness of the ensemble.

Biography

Georges De Kerveguen (?–1897) was a sculptor and decorative bronze artist active in France during the second half of the 19th century. His work is part of the eclectic and historicist tradition that characterized the decorative arts during the Second Empire and the early years of the Third Republic. He is particularly appreciated for his ornamental compositions inspired by Greco-Roman mythology, maritime motifs, and classical allegories.