Lustre En Cristal De Roche – XXe Siècle

Chandelier with twelve arms of light.
Gilt metal, rock crystal, amethyst and smoky quartz. 
Northern Italy. 
20th century.
Electrified.
 
This important chandelier is all dressed in rock crystal and presents a rich network of pearl strings. On the bottom, the twelve arms of light are punctuated by a binet and imposing rock crystal, smoky quartz or amethyst pendant. The central metal shaft shows strings of pearls organized in airy volutes with amethysts florets. 
 
The opulence of the rock crystal ornaments that make up the chandelier gives it a luxuriant appearance: striated or multi-faceted drops, lozenges, and plates with scalloped edges are all punctuated with fleurons. 
 
 
In the 18th century, the rock crystal chandelier was particularly popular with the wealthiest. It was one of the rarest and most expensive materials of the time. Its abundance on chandeliers, in addition to its aesthetic qualities, ensured a wider diffraction of light. The crystals that made up the pendants had to be clear. They were qualified according to their “water", the frost that characterizes the stone had to be as little present as possible.
 
 
This chandelier is based on the Northern Italian models of the second half of the 18th century. The region had become the centre for the creation of rock crystal lights and Italian craftsmen were renowned for their mastery of pearl stringing which richly dressed their lights.