Ref: 64
Ceiling Chandelier
Ref: 64
Ceiling Chandelier
Epoche Empire
Bronze
130 x 80 cm (51 ¹/₈ x 31 ¹/₂ inches)
Bronze
130 x 80 cm (51 ¹/₈ x 31 ¹/₂ inches)
Description: Ceiling Chandelier, France, First Quarter of the 19th Century (Empire Period)
This French ceiling chandelier, dating from the first quarter of the nineteenth century, is an outstanding example of the Empire style. Executed in cast, chased, and fire-gilt bronze, and lavishly adorned with cut-glass prisms and crystal bead festoons, it embodies the grandeur and ceremonial elegance characteristic of the Napoleonic Empire. Developed during the reign of Napoleon I, the Empire style drew its inspiration from Greco-Roman antiquity, favouring symmetry, monumentality, and refined craftsmanship as expressions of imperial authority and prestige.
The chandelier is conceived around a closed, ring-shaped composition. The finely chased central corona supports sixteen elegantly scrolling outer candle arms, each fitted with drip pans and cylindrical candle sockets enriched with faceted crystal pendants. A second, inner tier of eight opposing candle arms reinforces the balanced and harmonious arrangement. The outer corona is further embellished with a continuous frieze of suspended prisms, while densely arranged festoons of faceted crystal beads descend to a lower suspended ring, itself encircled by a rich fringe of hanging prisms. The composition is crowned by an upper ring with prism ornamentation, from which cascading strands of finely cut crystal descend towards the principal lighting tier. The interplay of gilded bronze and cut crystal produces a brilliant and highly theatrical effect.
Chandeliers closely comparable in their construction, arrangement, and overall typology were supplied in 1809 for the apartments of Napoleon I and the Empress at the Château de Fontainebleau, attesting to the distinguished character of this design. The present chandelier thus represents an exemplary expression of the magnificence and refinement associated with French Empire decorative arts.
Dimensions: Height 130 cm; Diameter 80 cm.
This French ceiling chandelier, dating from the first quarter of the nineteenth century, is an outstanding example of the Empire style. Executed in cast, chased, and fire-gilt bronze, and lavishly adorned with cut-glass prisms and crystal bead festoons, it embodies the grandeur and ceremonial elegance characteristic of the Napoleonic Empire. Developed during the reign of Napoleon I, the Empire style drew its inspiration from Greco-Roman antiquity, favouring symmetry, monumentality, and refined craftsmanship as expressions of imperial authority and prestige.
The chandelier is conceived around a closed, ring-shaped composition. The finely chased central corona supports sixteen elegantly scrolling outer candle arms, each fitted with drip pans and cylindrical candle sockets enriched with faceted crystal pendants. A second, inner tier of eight opposing candle arms reinforces the balanced and harmonious arrangement. The outer corona is further embellished with a continuous frieze of suspended prisms, while densely arranged festoons of faceted crystal beads descend to a lower suspended ring, itself encircled by a rich fringe of hanging prisms. The composition is crowned by an upper ring with prism ornamentation, from which cascading strands of finely cut crystal descend towards the principal lighting tier. The interplay of gilded bronze and cut crystal produces a brilliant and highly theatrical effect.
Chandeliers closely comparable in their construction, arrangement, and overall typology were supplied in 1809 for the apartments of Napoleon I and the Empress at the Château de Fontainebleau, attesting to the distinguished character of this design. The present chandelier thus represents an exemplary expression of the magnificence and refinement associated with French Empire decorative arts.
Dimensions: Height 130 cm; Diameter 80 cm.
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