Three Rock Crystal Wall Lights - 20th Century

Three wall lights with five arms of light.  
Rock crystal, smoky quartz, amethyst, gilt metal.  
Northern Italy.  
20th century.  
 
Electrified.  
 
 
These wall lights show double strings of intertwined rock crystal beads. Punctuated with flowers, the arms of light are formed by the scrolls of beads. The ensemble is harmoniously completed by large amethyst, rock crystal and smoky quartz pendants.  
 
In the 18th century, the rock crystal chandelier was particularly popular with the wealthiest. It was one of the rarest and most expensive materials of the time. Its abundance on chandeliers, in addition to its aesthetic qualities, ensured a wider diffraction of light. The crystals that made up the pendants had to be clear. They were qualified according to their “water", the frost that characterizes the stone had to be as little present as possible. 
 
 
The model of these wall lights is after on Northern Italian models from the second half of the 18th century. The region had become the centre for the creation of rock crystal lights and Italian craftsmen were renowned for their mastery of pearl stringing which richly dressed their lights.