Chandelier
ca. 1815 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
Chandeliers became increasingly popular after the middle of the 18th century, when the natural beauty of British lead glass was perfectly complemented by elaborate styles of cutting. Early chandeliers were hung with spindly, fragile, glass arms and drops. By the early 19th century, these had been replaced by more architectural forms with sturdy metal frames entirely covered with shimmering curtains of prismatic, flat, glass drops.
Time
Many forms of lighting were available at this period, from miners' grease lamps to very expensive reading lights with sophisticated oil burners. But until the development of 'gasoliers' in the 1830s, the only effective method of lighting large rooms was to use the reflective and refractive properties of cut glass and to increase the number of candles - in the case of this chandelier, to eighteen.
Ownership & Use
Chandeliers were prohibitively expensive to buy and likely to need regular dismantling and replacement parts. For these reasons, only wealthy owners of country houses (such as Wroxton Abbey in Oxfordshire, the source of this fine example), and occasionally commercial social venues (such as the Assembly Rooms at Bath), could afford to purchase directly from specialist glass dealers. Others would simply hire them for parties, along with the china, the glass, and all the catering facilities. Hire charges were about 10% of the value: in 1812, for example, the Duke of Atholl hired from a London glass dealer a twelve-light chandelier, valued at 98 guineas, for ten guineas.
Chandeliers became increasingly popular after the middle of the 18th century, when the natural beauty of British lead glass was perfectly complemented by elaborate styles of cutting. Early chandeliers were hung with spindly, fragile, glass arms and drops. By the early 19th century, these had been replaced by more architectural forms with sturdy metal frames entirely covered with shimmering curtains of prismatic, flat, glass drops.
Time
Many forms of lighting were available at this period, from miners' grease lamps to very expensive reading lights with sophisticated oil burners. But until the development of 'gasoliers' in the 1830s, the only effective method of lighting large rooms was to use the reflective and refractive properties of cut glass and to increase the number of candles - in the case of this chandelier, to eighteen.
Ownership & Use
Chandeliers were prohibitively expensive to buy and likely to need regular dismantling and replacement parts. For these reasons, only wealthy owners of country houses (such as Wroxton Abbey in Oxfordshire, the source of this fine example), and occasionally commercial social venues (such as the Assembly Rooms at Bath), could afford to purchase directly from specialist glass dealers. Others would simply hire them for parties, along with the china, the glass, and all the catering facilities. Hire charges were about 10% of the value: in 1812, for example, the Duke of Atholl hired from a London glass dealer a twelve-light chandelier, valued at 98 guineas, for ten guineas.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Cut glass, mounted on a gilt-bronze framework |
| Brief description | Chandelier, cut glass mounted on an ormolu framework. English, 1810-1820. |
| Physical description | Approximately 4800 separate pieces of glass, including 3700 double-cut brilliant buttons, 815 icicles and 193 square cut jewels. The upper part is topped by a corona of glass leaves. Below this, three horizontal disks of cut glass increasing in size and pierced by the metal central shaft. Round the upper edge of each disk small square plates of cut glass are arranged contiguously, from the lower edge hang closely-set strings of facetted drops, ending in long pointed pendants. The strings hanging from the topmost, the second and the lowest disks contain 3, 4, and 10 drops respectively. Below the disks 3 metal chains support the lower part of the chandelier, hidden by a curtain of long strings of faceted drops which are fastened at the bottom to a bowl-shaped metal framework. This edge is masked by a dentate cornice made from blocks of glass laid side by side and supporting a ‘battlement’ of small rectangular plates set upright. From behind the cornice spring 18 s-shaped arms ending in nozzles with globular body and widely flaring mouth; the sconces are flat glass dishes with upturned, scalloped edges, from which hang close-set strings each of two facetted drops and a pointed pendant. The chandelier is closed below by a shower of strings, each of two drops and a pointed pendant, hanging from a metal framework in 8 concentric circles. Hanging from an ormolu disk in the centre is a faceted ball of glass. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Purchased with the assistance of the Bryan Bequest Fund |
| Object history | Probably made in London. Made for Wroxton Abbey, Oxfordshire. Remained here until it was sold by Lord North to Delomosne & Son, Limited. Its limited movement accounts for its unusually good condition when it was purchased from Delomosne in 1936. |
| Summary | Object Type Chandeliers became increasingly popular after the middle of the 18th century, when the natural beauty of British lead glass was perfectly complemented by elaborate styles of cutting. Early chandeliers were hung with spindly, fragile, glass arms and drops. By the early 19th century, these had been replaced by more architectural forms with sturdy metal frames entirely covered with shimmering curtains of prismatic, flat, glass drops. Time Many forms of lighting were available at this period, from miners' grease lamps to very expensive reading lights with sophisticated oil burners. But until the development of 'gasoliers' in the 1830s, the only effective method of lighting large rooms was to use the reflective and refractive properties of cut glass and to increase the number of candles - in the case of this chandelier, to eighteen. Ownership & Use Chandeliers were prohibitively expensive to buy and likely to need regular dismantling and replacement parts. For these reasons, only wealthy owners of country houses (such as Wroxton Abbey in Oxfordshire, the source of this fine example), and occasionally commercial social venues (such as the Assembly Rooms at Bath), could afford to purchase directly from specialist glass dealers. Others would simply hire them for parties, along with the china, the glass, and all the catering facilities. Hire charges were about 10% of the value: in 1812, for example, the Duke of Atholl hired from a London glass dealer a twelve-light chandelier, valued at 98 guineas, for ten guineas. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.1-1936 |
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| Record created | December 13, 1997 |
| Record URL |
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