Monumental Twelve-Light Black Murano Glass Chandelier

An imposing Venetian chandelier of monumental proportions, blown in black Murano glass (vetro nero) and enriched with applied ornaments in colourless cristallo. The tiered construction follows the traditional Ca' Rezzonico form, the central baluster shaft surmounted by a trumpet vase issuing sprays of stylised leaves, reeds and ribbon scrolls, the whole profusely dressed with rosettes and flowerheads worked in pastiglia.
The scrolling branches support twelve candle nozzles with finely ribbed bobèches, the lower section concluding in a graduated bowl and turned pendant finial.

The dramatic contrast between the deep saturated black of the principal elements and the translucent clarity of the floral mounts is characteristic of a model particularly prized for its theatrical presence and rarely encountered at this scale. The type revives the eighteenth century lighting preserved at the Palazzo Ca' Rezzonico in Venice, a model reinterpreted by the Murano glasshouses from the later nineteenth century onwards.

Origin: Italy, Murano

Period: circa 1980

Dimensions: H. 145 cm, Ø 100 cm

Lights: 12

Condition: Perfect condition throughout, no losses or restorations.