A set of four late 19th century French gilt bronze and blue 'jasperware' mounted twin branch wall lights by Henri Vian
in the Louis XVI style
The back plates in the form of drapering centred centred by oval 'jasperware' medallions depicting two varying scenes of Venus and Cupid within laurel surrounds above upswept  acanthus and reeded arms issuing sconces and drip-pans, all surmounted by riband tied bows and terminating in twin tasselled finials, stamped to the reverse on various components, 'HV 955', two panels of slightly different blue ground colour, 67cm high, 32cm wide. (4)

Henri Vian was a bronzier active in Paris in the second half of the 19th Century, their workshop was sizeable and output included high quality interior pieces such as chimney pieces, mounted vases and chandeliers and their clients included grand hotels of the period and they trades internationally. The firm was located at 5 rue de Thorigny in Paris (the Salé Mansion, now the Picasso Museum). The firm was continued by Madame Vian after her husband’s death in 1905. The ‘BY’ inscription in addition to the Henri Vian stamps on the lights offered here is one traditionally linked to Alfred Beurdeley. Dr Camille Mestdagh suggests that as Vian purchased various master-models at the Beurdeley workshop sale that the backplates are by Beurdeley but the main part of the lights were most probably conceived by Vian.

Our thanks to Camille Mestdagh for the attribution of these lights.