Pair of antique Louis XV style ormolu chenets

The ormolu (gilt bronze) chenets are of matching design. Each item features a full-length sculpture of a putto with a nude torso and two legs which terminate in twisting fish tails. The putti’s bodies are draped with seashell sashes and they hold shells in their raised hands. The figures kneel on pierced bases which are composed of C-scrolls and curling foliage.

These chenets feature many motifs which are characteristic of the Rococo style, such as putti, seashells, stylised foliage and scrollwork. The Rococo style was especially fashionable in the period when Louis XV was king of France (1715-1774). The style is defined by its elegance and ornate character.