Girandole - Gilt Bronze - Baccarat Crystal Pendants - 20th Century

A delightful antique "girandole" with a gilt bronze frame.
It is adorned with Baccarat crystal pendants.
The different-sized pendants are each topped by a small crystal flower, magnifying the four arms of light.
Magnificent white opaline candle covers enhance each arm of light and cleverly conceal the electrical system of the bulbs.
The electrical system has been overhauled and is in perfect working order.

Period : XXth Century
Style : Regence
Dimensions: Height: 44cm x Width: 33cm

A bit of history!
Girandole comes from the Italian word "giranda", which means bundle, spray of rockets or jets of water.
The idea of something circular is in the word "girare", meaning "to turn".
Girandoles appeared in royal furniture from the 1660s. 
They allowed light to be divided into several focal points, gradually replacing wax torches, table or hand torches and other single lighting objects. 

Although writings, invoices and orders show that girandoles abounded at Versailles, most of them disappeared during the French Revolution, and only a handful have survived, particularly from the time of Louis XIV.