Pair of ormolu and glass 'Versailles' beehive lanterns

The lanterns in this pair are wrought from ormolu and glass in the Louis XVI style.

The design of each lantern is based on a model built for the Palace of Versailles in the 18th Century. Each lantern takes an octagonal 'Versailles' or 'beehive' shape, and the main body of each consists of four rows of rectangular panes of bevelled glass joined by ormolu frames mounted with floral decorations at each intersection. There are ormolu lion masks mounted to the bottom of the lanterns, and to the top there are further mounts in the form of shells, acorns, and acanthus leaves. The very top of each lantern features a crest in the form of a jewelled crown.