Peocock decorated ormolu chandelier

A crystal chandelier with eighteen gilt and chiseled bronze light branches, nine of them are hanging from a circular floral decorated crown, alternating with nine other lights shaped as very special peococks with eagle heads. On the top part of the chandelier is a palmettes decorated crown from which are hanging several crystal pendants; it ends in its lower part by a pine cone surrounded by cristal drops.
The ligthing is one of the characteristics part of the decorative arts of the Empire. In this field we can notice a real concern for purity forms also derived from classical architecture. The influence of Percier and Fontaine asserted itself more strongly here than elsewhere, perhaps and we are obliged to them of the perfection of the pieces of this time.


Bibliography:E. Hessling, Documents de style Empire, Le luminaire, Paris, ed. Hessling