Based on models by Gilbert Poillerat

Pair of vintage wall sconces from the 1960s. Based on designs by GILBERT POILLERAT (France, 1902–1988).
Pair of wall sconces, c. 1960.
Gilded iron.
Measurements: 41.5 x 41.5 cm (x2).
The triumph of Poillerat’s sun motifs lies in his ability to transform iron and bronze into pieces of almost poetic lightness and elegance, elevating the classical heraldry of the “Sun King” to a sophisticated and timeless decorative language. His success is rooted in impeccable technical execution, where the sinuous, undulating (flaming) rays lend a visual dynamism that seems to radiate real energy, breaking the rigidity of the metal. As a master metalworker who worked during the heyday of the Neo-Baroque style and late Art Deco, his designs achieve a unique harmony between the strength of the material and the delicacy of the form, becoming “jewels” that bring a touch of understated luxury and a patina of French history to any high-end interior.
Gilbert Poillerat studied at the École Boulle, where he trained as a metal engraver and chaser, graduating in 1921. Between 1921 and 1927, he worked for the wrought-iron expert Edgar Brandt on design and production tasks. In 1927, he began working for the structural engineering firm Baudet, Donon, and Roussel, where he headed the decorative metalwork division, producing tables and lamps. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Poillerat continued to design furniture and architectural elements. He drew inspiration from various sources, such as historic architecture and nature. In 1934, he began producing jewelry. In the mid-1930s, under the influence of Christian Bérard and Jean Cocteau, Poillerat drew inspiration from the Neo-Baroque movement. In 1946, Poillerat left Baudet, Donon, and Roussel to work as a professor at the École Nationale des Arts Décoratifs. He taught there for 26 years, while continuing his own design work, collaborating with artists of the caliber of André Arbus, Jean Pascaud, and Vadim Androusov.