Two Russian Empire discus chandeliers

In the early 19th century, Tsar Alexander I banned the import of French gilded bronze objects. This embargo meant that wealthy Russians could no longer buy luxurious French decorations. Russian craftsmen therefore had to make objects in the popular French Empire style themselves. Since they had few original French examples to work from, they drew inspiration from what was available: a mix of French and Italian designs, plus local Russian taste. This resulted in a unique variation: the Russian Empire style. This style is similar to the French Empire in terms of themes, but is often heavier and more richly decorated.

Igor Sychev, The Russian Chandeliers 1760-1830, Moscow, 2003; Igor Sychev, Russian Bronze, Moscow, 2003.