The central iron stem with scrolling ormolu supports is hung overall with crystal baluster finials, pear-shaped facetted drops and cut crystal pinnacles, rosettes and stars. The cage construction is comprised of four tiers with three arms each. Each ormolu section of the chandelier features two branches ending in lobed drip-pans for eight lights.
Hanging below the cage a large, exquisitely facetted crystal ball boss.
This chandelier reveals its true beauty when its candles are lit. The flickering of the flames magnificently illuminates all of the facets of the cut crystals.
Crystal crowns formed a splendid innovation to replace the gilded wood or silver crowns, which had become old-fashioned by the 1720s. Gilt wood, and even silver, did not reflect as well as facetted glass, which provided a play of light in all directions. This was especially the case if the light from the chandelier hanging in the centre of the room was additionally reflected by a mirror above the mantelpiece, for example.
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