Nine-light chandelier
In the era before gas lighting and electricity, candles played a principal role in illuminating the interior of a house. The number and type of candles lit was an indication of the wealth and status of the owner. Beeswax candles burnt cleaner and smelled more pleasant than tallow and were rather expensive. Contemporary travelers and diarists frequently commented on the illumination and cost of brightly lit spaces.
Gilt bronze was extensively used for different types of lighting ranging from standing candlesticks and candelabra to hanging chandeliers and lanterns.
This graceful chandelier has a vase-shaped patinated-bronze body fitted with a fluted neck of gilt bronze. From a gilt-bronze band encircling the vase rise nine S-shaped branches, each decorated with scrolling acanthus-leaf motifs, a flaring drip pan and a candle socket. The chandelier is suspended from gilt-bronze chains.
The combination of patinated metal and gilt bronze used here offered the kind of rich and sophisticated contrast favored during the late eighteenth century.
Gilt bronze was extensively used for different types of lighting ranging from standing candlesticks and candelabra to hanging chandeliers and lanterns.
This graceful chandelier has a vase-shaped patinated-bronze body fitted with a fluted neck of gilt bronze. From a gilt-bronze band encircling the vase rise nine S-shaped branches, each decorated with scrolling acanthus-leaf motifs, a flaring drip pan and a candle socket. The chandelier is suspended from gilt-bronze chains.
The combination of patinated metal and gilt bronze used here offered the kind of rich and sophisticated contrast favored during the late eighteenth century.
Artwork Details
- Title: Nine-light chandelier
- Date: ca. 1785
- Culture: French
- Medium: Gilt and patinated bronze
- Dimensions: Height: 36 5/8 in. (93 cm)
- Classification: Metalwork-Gilt Bronze
- Credit Line: Purchase, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wrightsman Gift, 1977
- Object Number: 1977.83
- Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
French
ca. 1790
French, Paris
ca. 1787–88
Multiple artists/makers
after 1771–72, mounts ca. 1780
Guillaume Dupré
1615
Claude-Siméon Passemant
ca. 1750
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.