Pair of Storm Lanterns French Old Paris Porcelain Butterflies Antique c 1830

A pair of beautiful, rare, Old Paris porcelain ( Vieux Paris porcelaine ) square plinth and ormolu storm lanterns or hurricane lamps, for candles, complete with glass shades. The cube shaped porcelain bases, or socles, are painted with pink and green ground colours. Each face is decorated either with a poly-chrome enamelled butterfly or a green silhouette of a Chinoiserie scene. Each painting is contained within a square blue border and the edges of the cube are painted with a burgundy line. The base and tops are gilded, as are some of the painted scenes. As the bases are decorated all round they were probably intended to sit on a table, as opposed to on a mantle shelf.

The gilded brass candle nozzle and shade holder are screwed to the porcelain base. The shade holder or gallery fitting is decorated with a repeating embossed shell, floral and leaf pattern. The base of the gallery is pierced and in the shape of nine acanthus leaves. The gap between the acanthus leaves allows for air to flow to the candle when the glass shade is in place.

The hurricane lamp shape glass shades are fitted to brass carrier plates that stabilise the shades in the gallery. These shades are most probably replacements as the bases are 2 inches diameter however, with a 2 5/8 inch diameter shade fitter there would be no need for a carrier plate.

These storm lanterns date from circa 1830, late George IV to William IV period in the UK and Charles X to Louis Phillippe in France during the Bourbon Restoration period of the early 19th century.

They may possibly have been made by Darte Freres of Palais Royal who are known to have produced items with the green silhouette Chinoiserie scenes; however, some collectors may consider these to be painted in the style of Jacob Petit aka Jacob Mardoché (1797- 1868) the renowned Paris Porcelain manufacturer. They are certainly French early to mid 19th century Old Paris porcelain and a beautiful decorative useful pair.

Some collectors may refer to these as antique banquet lamps with storm shades.

They are in excellent antique condition. The gilding on the shade carriers and the bottom of the bases appears to have be retouched. There is some minor wear to the gilding on the decorative faces. There are no chips crack nor restoration to the porcelain bodies. Please see the images.

This is a great item for any collector of French early 19th century (  xix^e siècle ) porcelain or just a fantastic pair of decorator's pieces.

Free international worldwide postage with this item.

Overall Height 12 3/8 inches ( 31.5 cm)
Shade diameter 4 1/8 inches ( 10.4 cm)
Base Width 4 inches (10 cm)
Gallery height 7 1/2 inches (19 cm)
Total weight 2640 grammes unpacked.