A RUSSIAN ORMOLU TWELVE-LIGHT CHANDELIER
PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT PRIVATE COLLECTION (LOTS 796-826)
A RUSSIAN ORMOLU TWELVE-LIGHT CHANDELIER

ST. PETERSBURG, PROBABLY BY IVAN DIPNER AFTER A DESIGN BY CARLO ROSSI, CIRCA 1825

Details
A RUSSIAN ORMOLU TWELVE-LIGHT CHANDELIER
ST. PETERSBURG, PROBABLY BY IVAN DIPNER AFTER A DESIGN BY CARLO ROSSI, CIRCA 1825
The circular corona with sprays of rose branches issuing scroll-cast chains suspending a pierced circular dish cast with alternating lyres and scrolls and supporting figures of frolicking putti to the rim, with twelve foliate scrolled candlearms, electrified, with a later pinecone finial, one putto to rim off and retained, probably originally with an additional central element
55¾ in. (142 cm.), 34 in. (86.5 cm.) diameter
Provenance
with Galerie Kugel, Paris.
Literature
J. Kugel, Tresors des Tzars: La Russie & L'Europe de Pierre Le Grand à Nicolas 1er, Paris, 1998, pl. 263 and p. 108.

Lot Essay

This classically-inspired chandelier relates to a design by the Italian-born architect Karl Ivanovich (Carlo) Rossi, reproduced in I. Sychev, Russkie svetilniki epokhi klassitsizma (Russian chandeliers of the classical epoch), St.Petersburg, 2003. p. 182. Carlo Rossi (1777-1849) became one of the most important architects and designers in Russia in the early 19th century, working at Pavlovsk from 1814 and becoming Court Architect in 1816.

A similar chandelier at Pavlovsk designed by Rossi and attributed to the German bronzier Ivan Dipner, who executed Rossi's designs at Mikhailovsky Palace and Pavlovsk, is illustrated in A. Koutchoumov, Russian Decorative Art in the Collection of the Pavlovsk Palace Museum, Leningrad, 1981, ill. 85. Another related chandelier attributed to Dipner after a design by Rossi was with Ariane Dandois and is illustrated in the 2000 catalogue, no. 27. A further related example in a Russian museum decorated with lyres, cupids and roses is reproduced here and illustrated in K.A. Solovlev, Russian Decorative Arts of the XVIII-XIX Centuries, Moscow, 1950, pls. 223-224.

More from Important European Furniture, Ceramics, Sculpture, Tapestries and Carpets

View All
View All