Early 20th-Century French Figural Nightlight of Napoleon, “The Eve of Wagram” - 14½" x 14¼"

This wonderfully evocative French figural nightlight from the early 20th century is cast in painted spelter and depicts Napoleon resting before a rustic fireplace on the eve of the Battle of Wagram, fought on July 5–6, 1809. Seated with his arms folded and boots stretched toward the hearth, he is surrounded by a remarkably detailed miniature interior, with hanging cooking vessels, a kettle, candle, table and simple country furnishings. Above the fireplace, a panel of textured glass diffuses the light from a small screw-fitting bulb concealed beneath the hearth, creating the effect of a softly glowing fire. As with many period nightlights, the illumination is deliberately very subdued, so the piece is best appreciated primarily as a sculpture rather than as a functional lamp. The painted surface has mellowed with age, with scattered wear and oxidation that contribute to its atmospheric character.

A brass plaque applied to the front identifies the composition as “Veille de Wagram / Par Salesio,” referring to the Italian sculptor Salesio Lugli (1869–1936). Born in Carpi near Modena, Lugli worked in Paris in the early 20th century and produced sculpture and decorative objects in a variety of materials, with historical and Napoleonic subjects forming part of his repertoire. This particular model is documented at the 1911 Turin International Exhibition, where a Veille de Wagram by Salésio was exhibited by the French manufacturer Paul Champeau among his imaginative electric lighting designs.

Combining historical narrative, sculpture and light, it is an imaginative example of early 20th-century French decorative lighting, with a wonderfully theatrical, slightly exuberant quality that is very much part of its charm. There is something delightfully playful about the miniature staging of Napoleon before the glowing hearth, giving the piece an irresistible decorative character that feels both period and unexpectedly fun.