Designs for a Chandelier and a Plaster Mount 19th century

This is a design for a chandelier and a plaster mount, made with pen and brown ink by an anonymous artist. The drawing offers us a glimpse into the world of interior decoration and design. Pieces such as these, common in 18th-century Europe, speak to the culture of elite consumption and display. The elaborate designs and fine materials were meant to impress, reflecting the wealth and taste of their owners. Consider the social hierarchies of the time, where objects like these not only provided light but also signaled status. By examining sources like period inventories, architectural treatises, and pattern books, we can start to understand the intentions of both the designer and the patron. It is important to consider the role that the culture of display played in the homes of the wealthy.