Pair of polychrome wood wall lamps - period : art nouveau - circa 1900

Here is a lovely pair of wooden sconces painted in polychromy and wrought iron. An abundant garland of fruit and ears of wheat, magnifies two arms of light arranged asymmetrically. Period: art nouveau. Circa: 1900. Dimensions: height: 57cm X width: 30cm X depth: 17cm  The term polychromy, formed from the ancient greek polus ("many") and chrôma ("color"), refers to the application of colors to sculpture and architecture, either by the use of paint (polychromy called "artificial"), or by the assembly of materials of different colors (polychromy called "natural").  The word appears in the french language in the nineteenth century, during debates that divided scholars on the question of the coloring of statues and buildings of the greeks and romans. It is known today that ancient sculpture and architecture were polychrome.  However, classical antiquity remains associated with an immaculate whiteness, that of the marble statues and monuments that one admires when visiting museums and archaeological sites.  It is forgotten that their current appearance is in fact the result of discoloration due to several factors, the effects of weather and atmospheric conditions have led to the alteration or disappearance of the original polychromy. Men also have their share of responsibility, because of the meticulous cleaning of the artifacts when they were discovered.

Ref. : 8YH2P13Y