Baccarat, Orientalist Chandelier, France, circa 1890

Charming Orientalist chandelier in chiseled and gilded bronze, clear and “ruby” crystal attr. to Baccarat. The shaft consists of six tubular gilded bronze mounts shaped in curves and counter-curves, from which extend six light arms ending in corolla-shaped bobèches and fluted binets. The top is crowned by a spherical globe from which the upper volutes emerge. The entire chandelier is embellished with a network of fine chains with twisted links, from which hang numerous pendants and drops in smooth and cut crystal, both clear and “ruby.”

The Oriental-inspired style of this chandelier is evident in the complex interweaving of its sinuous lines and in its warm color scheme, which combines the brilliance of gilded bronze with the depth of tinted crystals. This type of design reflected the era’s fascination with a romanticized vision of the Orient, evoking the opulence of Moorish or Ottoman palaces.

Biography :
The famous crystal manufacture of Baccarat, that dates back to the 18th century, was awarded its first medal in 1823, during the “Exposition des Produits de l’Industrie” for the “brilliance and the sharpness of its crystal” and became then the most renowned French “cristallerie”. Baccarat was undoubtedly the only French manufacture, that exhibited steadily and magnificently its products at the various Universal Exhibitions, and especially between 1855 and 1867. Reports of the Universal Exhibition, from 1855 to 1867, talk about the “perfection of the material and of its cut”, considered superior of those from Bohemia or England.