Pagoda Shaped Chandelier, French Manufacture End Of The XIXth, Beginning Of The XXth Century

This refined chandelier in glass and gilt metal, made in France at the end of the 19th century, takes the form of a Japanese lantern or pagoda, with its curved roof, light structure, and colorful pendants. Its sinuous lines are enhanced with polychrome glass beads, turning the object into a true kaleidoscope of colors. The chandelier features six lights adapted for electric illumination.

The piece is an eloquent example of Japonisme, the movement that, during the reign of Napoleon III, spread throughout Europe an appreciation for Japanese art and aesthetics. The oriental forms and motifs are here reinterpreted according to the French taste for luxury and decorative precision, transforming a utilitarian object into an exotic and refined creation, a symbol of the fascination with the Orient in Second Empire Paris.