It's a curious old item, isn't it. Yet irresistible, really. I believe it dates mid-1800s and was a wall pocket which might have had a zinc liner to be used as a hanging jardiniere. At some point it was adapted to be a light sconce. See photos of the interior, a very unusual old addition. You can see from the beautiful and undamaged 5 Old Paris porcelain plaques, and their mounts, it predates electricity, but at some point early electrical apparatus has been installed. My thoughts: turn it back into a wall pocket. These were typically hung near a dressing table and held brushes and vanity items. That it has a bare plaster interior makes me think it was made to hold plants or flowers, though, and would have had a fitted zinc liner. I'd love to see it with trailing ivy and some beautiful flowers. The plaques alone are valuable, of course. There are 5 in all and each is perfectly preserved.
Excellent for the porcelain plaques (5 in all) and good to very good for the entire piece. As you can see from our loads of photos, the plaster shell formation at bottom has some flaws, and the scalloped upper rim of the basin of the piece has also. Still, what a fabulous accent piece and very unique. It is gilded decorated plaster on thin wood. Beautiful even with the old flaws, but if you're inclined to restore, quite a simple job, really. You can let me know how you ultimately use it. Measurements are noted on the photos.
