These wall lights have their 'vase' nozzles and reeded branches wrapped by Roman foliage in the Louis XVI antique or 'arabesque' style introduced in the 1770s as feature on candelabra designed by the architect Jean-Louis Prieur (d. 1792) (H. Ottomeyer & P. Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, vol. I, Munich, 1986, p. 169, no. 3.4.12).
Related candelabra branches cast with foliage at their bases combined with spiraling and fluted decoration, are often a feature associated with Benjamin Vulliamy, 'furniture man' and clock-maker to George, Prince of Wales, later King George IV. For example a pair of ormolu five-light tripod candelabra that was supplied to George IV by Vulliamy in 1814 are similarly wreathed (G. De Bellaigue, et al, Buckingham Palace, New York, 1968, p. 156-157). The spirit and quality of the chasing of these wall-lights mark them apart as French rather than English, and possibly the production of the celebrated ciseleur-doreur François Rémond (1747-1812). Rémond worked predominantly for the marchand-mercier Dominique Daguerre, who himself supplied works of art to the Prince Regent, later George IV, as well as other notable English patrons such as George John, 2nd Earl Spencer. It is likely, therefore, that Vuilliamy would have been exposed to the work of Rémond whose candelabra branches clearly influenced the design of Vulliamy's own production. A single six-light candelabrum, attributed to Vulliamy was sold by the late Humphrey Whitbread, Esq., Christie's, London, 5 April 2001, lot 406 (£42,300 including premium). A pair of almost identical wall lights, possibly by Benjamin Vuillamy were sold at Christie's, London, 14 June 2001, lot 3 (£11,162.50, including premium).