Object Description
This grand chandelier has been beautifully-crafted from precious materials. The body of the piece is veneered in the blue gemstone, lapis lazuli, and is further ornamented with gilt foliate patterns. The chandelier dates originally from the late 19th Century with the lapis lazuli veneer being a later addition.
Luscious fruiting vines, crafted from gilt metal, decorate the stem and top of the chandelier. The arms bearing the lights are cast as vine branches, which bear fruit at the centre of the piece. Leaves encircle the base of the chandelier, and a bundle of ripe grapes hang below. There is a playful blurring of the line between artifice and nature in this piece.
The deep blue of the lapis lazuli is wonderfully offset by the gilding, which catches and reflects the light produced by the chandelier.