19th Century French Bronze Fireplace Chenets

Here is a pair of absolutely lovely and precious fireplace chenets.  They are very classical in design.  There of a little boy and girl putto or cherub sitting a top a classical gilt bronze base.  The cherubs are in a very rich and dark dark bronze.  There are fabulous gilt bronze accents on the little blankets which are wrapped around the cherubs’ shoulders .  I am knocked about by the superior definition in the casting in these bronzes – it really is exceptionally fine.  The lines are mellow – fingers and toes are so well defined.  Of course they date from the mid 19th century.  They have an open space in the back so I’m not sure if they were attached by a central rod or not.  In the past I have had them both ways either connected as a decorative fireplace fender or I have had them just like this where they are individual pieces.  They have an impressed foundry mark on the back of the square plinth over the back foot which reads – Unis France with the numbers 55 on the left and 30 on the right.  They have an outstanding rich and mellow surface patina.  They are elegant and grand in form and design.  The one thing I like about acquiring chenets, that may have been separated from their back bar, is the fact that you can literately just use them as a sculpture or decoration every where.  They are no longer prisoners to the fireplace  They measure 8” at widest x 13” at highest x 7 ½” at deepest.