Lobmeyr, Large Gilt Bronze And Crystal Chandelier, Napoleon III Period

Exceptional gilt bronze and cut glass chandelier by the Viennese manufacturer Lobmeyr, second half of the nineteenth century.
This elegant chandelier is built around a central shaft carrying 36 light arms on three distinct levels.
The chandelier distinguishes itself through its impressive shape (180cm x 125cm) and quality of gilt bronze, and cut and faceted crystal.
Similar models of this chandelier where presented at the 1873 Vienna World Fair.

Ca. 1880

Short history Lobmeyr
Lobmeyr is a renowned Austrian glassmaker founded in Vienna in 1823 by Josef Lobmeyr. Initially established as a shop for fine glassware in the heart of the city, the company began producing and selling chandeliers from the 1840s onwards, complementing its range of Biedermeier-era glass products. Lobmeyr’s reputation for exceptional craftsmanship quickly grew, and the firm became a supplier to the Imperial House of Habsburg.

The renowned Austrian glassmaker, played a significant role in international exhibitions in the 19th century, most notably at the Vienna World’s Fair (Weltausstellung) of 1873, where it showcased grand glass services, mirrors, and decorative works that earned public and press acclaim.
Ludwig Lobmeyr, son of the founder, was instrumental in these early world fairs. He evolved to one of the most important exponents of the Austrian-Bohemian glass making.

Under Ludwig and his brother Josef, the Lobmeyr manufactury expanded its offerings from drinking services to crystal chandeliers and became internationally known through exhibitions in London (1862), Paris (1867), and Vienna (1873). These exhibition successes helped establish Lobmeyr’s reputation for technical innovation and artistic glassware, a legacy still celebrated in modern museum displays and retrospectives of its two‑century craft history.

Composition chandelier
The chandeliers 36 light arms are divided on three distinct levels. The first tier has 18 arms, the second 12 and third 6.
Its bronze arms are covered with single cut round crystals, —a characteristic feature of Lobmeyr’s design— maximizing light reflection. The central shaft is mounted with various crystal elements.
Diverse cut glass pendants embellish the arms, designed and shaped in different models and sizes. The drip pans are hung with glass prisms. Obelisks ornament the upper levels.
The chandeliers crown is introduced with an inverted lobed coupe and topped with C-scrolls which are embellished with stars and outward-pointing spears. At the bottom an oval shaped finial completes its design.