Live Auction 6749Boulle to Jansen: An Important Private European Collection
AN EMPIRE ORMOLU, BRONZE AND COBALT-BLUE GLASS EIGHTEEN-LIGHT CHANDELIER
Lot 52

AN EMPIRE ORMOLU, BRONZE AND COBALT-BLUE GLASS EIGHTEEN-LIGHT CHANDELIER

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GBP 71,700

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AN EMPIRE ORMOLU, BRONZE AND COBALT-BLUE GLASS EIGHTEEN-LIGHT CHANDELIER
The corona in the form of a tambourine hung with bells and suspending further interlinked oval and circular chains, the later circular cobalt-blue glass dish enclosed within a pierced border of alternating stiff-leaves and flowers punctuated by breakfront tablets with lion-masks issuing pierced rings with three facetted nozzles each, the dish with crossed thyrsae trailed with vines and supporting a standing figure of a dancing Bacchanalian nymph, drilled for electricity, with rosette paterae studs to the underside, together with a later section of reeded suspension chain of interspersed circles and ovals, the plain top of the tambourine re-using a metal plate etched with mythological figures
Approx. 45in. (114.5cm.) high overall, without extra suspension chain; 36in. (91.5cm.) wide

Specialist note

Designed in the 'antique' style popularised by Charles Percier and Pierre Fontaine's Recueil des Décorations Intérieures of 1801, this chandelier, with its dancing nymph, vine-wrapped thyrsae and panther-mask candle-branches, celebrates Bacchus, God of Hospitality. No doubt conceived for a Dining room or room of entertainment, the chandelier's panther-mask supported candelabra ring can also be seen on wall-lights supplied by Claude Galle on 31 July 1810 for the Petit Trianon at Versailles (D. Ledoux-Lebard, Versailles Le Petit Trianon, Paris, 1989, p.122, fig.1301), as well as on those supplied by Thomire Duterme et cie. in 1810 for the Palais de Fontainebleau, which are signed by the bronzier Rabiat on the reverse (J.P. Samoyault, Pendules et Bronzes d'ameublement entrés sous le Ier Empire, Paris, 1989, vol.I, pp.145 and 149).

Interestingly this design of lion-mask candelabra arm enjoyed endurance as a model, as is suggested by the watercoour design by Choiselat-Gallien of circa 1820 exhibited in 'Designs for Gilt Bronze Objects from the French Restoration 1814-1830', Exhibition Catalogue, Charles Plante Fine Arts, London, 2002, no.15.