French Rococo Revival style gilt blue glass chandelier

French Rococo Revival style gilt blue glass chandelier
French, early 20th Century
Height 115cm, diameter 96cm

This superb chandelier is a wonderfully vibrant piece of early 20th Century French design. The chandelier is designed loosely in the French Rococo Revival style, but its design hints at other European decorative glass traditions, particularly those of Bohemia and Murano.

The eight-light chandelier is crafted from clear glass that has been overlaid on occasion with blue glass and parcel gilt. This practice, known as overlay glass, has a long tradition in French decorative art. The chandelier is comprised of a central column of four tiers: the lowest tier supports the light branches, while the penultimate tier supports a series of ornate clear glass scrolls. The glass throughout features a vibrant blue overlay and delicate parcel gilding. The light branches are ornately scrolled, with each terminating in a blue overlay glass candleholder and drip pan.