AN EMPIRE ORMOLU TWENTY-FOUR LIGHT CHANDELIER

EARLY 19TH CENTURY

Details

AN EMPIRE ORMOLU TWENTY-FOUR LIGHT CHANDELIER
EARLY 19TH CENTURY
The circular patera-studded corona issuing pierced arched foliage sprays and with chain link suspension covered by pale pink silk, above four linked patera chains reaching to a pierced circular lotus-leaf cast ring issuing twin scrolled candle-branches, the cavetto-moulded underside cast with vine leaves and foliage, and with tapering foliage sprays ending in a pine-cone finial, fitted for electricity, restorations and replacements
53 in. (134.5 cm.) high; 44 in. (112 cm.) diam.

Provenance

Acquired from Bensimon by the previous owners as part of Stéphane Boudin of Maison Jansen's scheme of decoration.

Lot Essay

The chandelier is designed in the Grecian or antique fashion popularised by C. Percier and P. Fontaine's, Recueil de décorations intérieures, 1801. Its palm-leaf tazza frieze is flowered with Apollo sunflowers and its hollowed bowl evokes the festive harvest deities, Bacchus and Ceres, with a wreath of vine-entwined corn. The sunflowered frieze also features on a chandelier-tazza, surmounted by a dancing bacchante, illustrated in G. Henriot, Le Luminaire de la Renaissance au XIXème siècle, Paris, 1933, pl. 219 no 20. Another of the latter model was sold Christies, London, 11/12 June 2003, lot 52.

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