A pair of William and Mary giltwood wall lights by Thomas Pelletier.

Note: The wall lights have been re-gilded in small areas during the 20th century. It was probably during this process that they were drilled for electricity, but they have now been returned to candle light. The hinged candle arms are original, and the brass nozzles are replacements.

Wall lights of this period are exceptionally rare. The few that have survived include a pair originally at Bramshill House, Hampshire, another pair from Longford Castle, Wiltshire, and a set of four from Browsholme Hall, Lancashire. The last of these, which also feature a shell cresting, are closest in design to our wall lights. There are differences, however: our pair retain the original single candle arm, complete with distinctive knuckle hinge, while the Browsholme set have replaced twin candle arms, which are fixed rather than hinged.

The Pelletiers supplied high quality carved furniture to Hampton Court, Kensington Palace and St. James’s Palace through Gerrit Jensen and also on their own account in 1702 only. The design of the supporting column echoes the main features found on the legs of stands, giltwood tables and torchères supplied by the Pelletiers to Kensington Palace and Hampton Court between 1699 and 1703. Before this, Gerrit Jensen, who held the Royal warrant, had virtually monopolised the supply of furniture to the Royal Household for decades. Carved and gesso furniture was however most probably outsourced to and supplied by the Pelletiers. Pelletier manufacture becomes evident when earlier carved pieces supplied by Jensen are compared with pieces supplied by the Pelletiers directly.

The carved wall lights were very probably part of a larger set, but it has not been possible so far to locate them in the Royal accounts.