Gilded Brass and Crystal Chandelier, Late 19th Century
You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item
When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.
- Tier - One or more under-shelves of a table or cabinet.
- Gilding - Gilding is a method of ornamentation whereby a thin sheet of gold metal is applied to items made of wood, leather, ceramics, glass and silver for decorative purposes.
For furniture including mirrors, the sheet of gold is usually applied over a coating of gesso. Gesso is a mixture of plaster of Paris and gypsum mixed with water and then applied to the carved wooden frames of mirrors and picture frames as a base for applying the gold leaf. After numerous coats of gesso have been applied, allowed to dry and then sanded a coat of "bole", a usually red coloured mixture of clay and glue is brushed on and allowed to dry, after which the gold leaf is applied. Over time parts of the gilding will rub off so the base colour can be seen. In water gilding, this was generally a blue colour, while in oil gilding, the under layer was often yellow. In Victorian times, gilders frequently used red as a pigment beneath the gold leaf.
Metal was often gilded by a process known as fire gilding. Gold mixed with mercury was applied and heated, causing the mercury to evaporate, the long-term effect of which was to kill or disable the craftsman or woman from mercury poisoning. The pursuit of beauty has claimed many victims, not the least of which were the artists who made those pieces so highly sought after today.
This item has been included into following indexes:
Visually similar items
An antique Bohemian crystal twelve-branch chandelier, late 19th century, approx. 97 cm drop
A large French cut crystal chandelier of 12 lights, arranged in two tiers of six lights each, each branch festooned with multiple faceted drops. Height approx. 75 cm
A fine Victorian silver plate revolving Eight-Bottle cruet, 1859, maker's mark of Elkington & Co, the circular body raised on three vine leaf feet with an applied vine rim, frame and loop handle, supporting matching cut glass bottles for salt and pepper, s
An impressive French brass and crystal chandelier. Basket shape. The column with scrolled gilt arms and facetted prisms, above six arms with candle lights, with facetted prisms and crystal flower heads. 70 cm high, 57 cm diameter.