Pair of Louis XV Chinese-style andirons in gilt bronze

Fire-gilded and chiselled bronze; France, 18th century. Dimensions: H 35cm x W 36cm x D 20cm each.

This pair of finely chiselled and fire-gilded bronze andirons elegantly illustrates the pronounced taste of the Louis XV era for exoticism and oriental fantasy, in the spirit of the chinoiserie then in vogue.

The two figures, a male and a female character dressed in Chinese style, are treated with great narrative vivacity. Their animated, almost theatrical attitudes reflect a taste for picturesque scenes and gallant anecdotes. The delicately modelled faces, the costumes with their soft, flowing folds and the characteristic headdresses all contribute to this idealised Western vision of the Far East.

The ensemble is fully in keeping with the Rococo aesthetic: The bases are made up of large asymmetrical scrolls with dynamic curves and nervous counter-curves. The volutes, stylised shells and lively foliage create a very free decorative effect, typical of the Louis XV style. The controlled asymmetry and impression of continuous movement give the composition a great lightness despite the density of the bronze.

The original fire gilding, with its beautiful intensity, subtly highlights the modelling of the figures and accentuates the contrasts between the smooth surfaces of the flesh and the more detailed textures of the drapery and ornamental elements.

These andirons thus bear witness to the combination of technical virtuosity, decorative imagination and fascination with the Orient that characterises French furniture and decorative arts of the mid-18th century.