A GERMAN ORMOLU MOUNTED AND CUT GLASS TWELFE LIGHT CHANDELIER

Description:

attr. to the workshop of Karl Friedrich Schinkel, Berlin, early, 19th century
ca. 117 x 80 cm
Decorated overall with diamond cut glass decoration, the central wave shaped tier issuring 12 bobèches and flanked by palmets surmounted by three further gilt metal leaf tip cast tiers with cut glass crystals. Fitted for electricity. Some glass decoration later. Traces of age.
From an important German private Collection.
With its finely cast, waved and stepped tiers and the elaborate cut glass decoration this chandelier belongs to a distinctive group showing the Prussian “Greek” neo classicism, designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel (1781-1841) .
He was the foremost architect and designer to the Prussian court in the early 19th century, who was also an accomplished draughtsman and able to work in a remarkable variety of fields including architecture, furniture and porcelain design. Schinkel studied under the French architect David Gilly, through whom he was introduced to the rigourously neoclassical style of Charles Percier and Pierre Fontaine, made famous through their Recueil de Decoration interieure, 1812. In Berlin Schinkel's interpretation of Neo-classicism veered toward the Grecian, in part a reaction to the French more Roman inspired classicism.
A number of chandeliers comparable to the present example is supplied to Prinz August (see Karl Friedrich Schinkel, Ausstellungskatalog Orangerie Schloss Charlottenburg, Berlin 1981, fig. 270) and Prinz Karl (see J. Sievers, Karl Friedrich Schinkel. Lebenswerk, Die Moebel, 1950, fig. 240) - a similar chandelier once in the dining room of Schloss Berlin.