LOUIS XV CHANDELIER. BRONZE, GLASS. FRANCE, 19TH CENTURY.

Chandelier or ceiling lamp, Louis XVI style. Bronze, glass. France, 19th century. Ceiling lamp made of gilded bronze with transparent glass elements that has sixteen lights in total. Starting at the top, there is a small circular piece decorated in relief, from which emerges an axis that opens with four arms, which leave the center free for a series of faceted glass pieces (which function as the central visual axis ) and go downwards (note the bronze band with a string of pearls), ending in a cup. These four arms are divided at the bottom, giving rise to vegetal shapes, scrolls and architectural details. Vase-shaped lighters have been placed on the main arms, from which glass tears with pearls hang; They finish off the secondary bronze lighters with plant elements (“cups” on bronze plates, almost looking like a flower emerging from leaves), which have galloned glass saucers, some almost flat and others deeper. It is in this lower area that the hanging elements are concentrated in greater abundance: transparent glass tears, with pearls (sometimes in pairs, sometimes just one), and others in the shape of a flower. From the central point hangs a disc topped with a faceted sphere. Stylistically, the piece presents clear influences from the 18th century French Rococo: rockeries, contrasting curves and countercurves, plant elements with marked movement, etc. This influence is common in works from the 19th century, being called “Louis XV style”. Likewise, it is necessary to highlight the similarity of the glass elements of the lamp with works by the Société Baccarat, a company founded thanks to the permission of Louis XV in 1764 and which continues to operate today, specializing in high quality glass. It was common throughout the 19th century and part of the 20th for prominent bronzers in Paris to use Baccarat beads in their work (François Linke, E. Colin & Cie, etc.).

· Size: 80x80x132 cms