Two » rocaille» sconces in giltwood

Two gilt wood sconces with two light branches, with a decor of acanthus leaves and animated flowers.
The first part of the reign of Louis XV is marked by the new importance of the ornament which lead to the rococo or rocaille style.
The origin of the term rocaille comes from the mineral world; it indicates small stones, rocks and pieces of glass of irregular form.
Juste-Aurèle Meissonnier (1695-1750) is the first one to use the term rocaille to define patterns inspired of shells of irregular or asymmetrical forms. Once introduced in the interior decoration, the use of shells starts to grow thanks to an exceptional development. The infatuation for the shells and the minerals are part of the general interest for natural history. Rocaille and shells are the basic elements of decoration. We also note the presence of elements from the vegetal, floral and mineral world, sometimes stylized as the leaves and foliage in the friezes, sometimes realistic as laurel or oaks branches: they reflect the predominance of nature as a model.