Designs for a Chandelier 19th century

This is an anonymous design for a chandelier, rendered in pen and ink. As a design, this chandelier speaks to the world of interiors and perhaps even more acutely, to the aspirations of a particular class. Consider for a moment the cultural and social implications of light. Access to bright, interior light was historically a privilege. Think about the labor required to produce candles or the infrastructure needed for gas or electricity. This chandelier, likely intended for a well-appointed home, symbolizes luxury, leisure, and the social status of its commissioner. Although we don’t know the identity of the artist, their skill and attention to detail speaks to the networks of labor required to produce even the designs for such an object. This drawing, with its precise lines, invites us to reflect on the complex web of desire, production, and social hierarchy that luxury goods represent.