Design for a Chandelier by Anonymous

Design for a Chandelier 19th century

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drawing, ink

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drawing

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neoclacissism

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ink

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geometric

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decorative-art

Dimensions sheet: 16 7/8 x 9 1/8 in. (42.8 x 23.2 cm)

This is a design for a chandelier, drawn anonymously, showing a multi-armed light fixture made of metal, probably bronze or ormolu. The design employs the traditional skills of metalworking, including casting, chasing, and gilding. The emphasis is on ornamentation, with florid, leafy patterns covering nearly every surface. Note that all of this work was conceived to be carried out by hand; each element painstakingly crafted. The repetition of decorative details, such as the chain links or candle holders, would have involved a team of skilled artisans, each responsible for a specific part of the production process. Consider this design not just as an aesthetic object, but as a document of labor. It reflects the social hierarchies of its time, where the elite could afford such intricate and time-consuming luxury items, made possible by the work of many others. It's a demonstration of how modes of production are linked to social issues of labor and class.

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