Antique Pair French Ormolu Bronze Cherubs by Louis Kley 19th C

Louis Kley (1833-1911)

The French artist became famous for creating several Art Nouveau sculptures with many different motives. He executed some sculptures of children as well as some sculptures of animals and he got also in touch with the theme mythology. But even he liked mythology themes he also created sculptures characterized by allegorical themes.
 

Ormolu - Gilt Bronze (from French 'or moulu', signifying ground or pounded gold) is an 18th-century English term for applying finely ground, high-carat gold in a mercury amalgam to an object of bronze.The mercury is driven off in a kiln leaving behind a gold-coloured veneer known as 'gilt bronze'.

The manufacture of true ormolu employs a process known as mercury-gilding or fire-gilding, in which a solution of nitrate of mercury is applied to a piece of copper, brass, or bronze, followed by the application of an amalgam of gold and mercury. The item was then exposed to extreme heat until the mercury burned off and the gold remained, adhered to the metal object.

After around 1830 because legislation had outlawed the use of mercury other techniques were used instead. Electroplating is the most common modern technique. Ormolu techniques are essentially the same as those used on silver, to produce silver-gilt..