ENGLAND

Chandelier
(c. 1810)

Medium

glass, gilt-bronze, metal

Credit Line: National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1962

Gallery location: 19th Century European Paintings Gallery
Level 2, NGV International

About this work

The glass chandelier, a multi-branched candelabra suspended from the ceiling, developed during the early nineteenth century. The geometric faceting of the drops and prisms – a feature of British glass of this period – served to magnify the flickering light of the candles, aided by the highly refractive nature of English lead crystal. This chandelier would have been commissioned for the dining room of a grand country house or public building. The placement of the starbursts in between the candles maximised the effect of sparkling light and played on the idea of the starburst and light.

Artwork Details

Medium

glass, gilt-bronze, metal

Measurements

(a-ccc) 139.3 × 77.4 × 77.4 cm (overall)

Accession Number

434.a-ccc-D5

Department

International Decorative Arts

Credit Line

National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1962
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Digitisation Champion Ms Carol Grigor through Metal Manufactures Limited

Gallery location

19th Century European Paintings Gallery
Level 2, NGV International

Physical description

Hexagonal frame pierced and gilded, supporting 6 ormolu and glass sunbursts, suspended cut glass tassles. Coronet at top and glass finial at base.

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ENGLAND Chandelier (c. 1810)

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ENGLAND

Chandelier
(c. 1810)