Hot Air Balloon Chandelier, Gilt Bronze And Crystal Drops, 20th Century

- Hot air balloon chandelier with four lights, gilt bronze frame, and cut glass pendants. Early 20th-century piece, electrified.

- This chandelier, whose shape evokes that of a hot air balloon, consists of a gilt bronze frame adorned with numerous pendants. Topped with a decorative cup, the central body, shaped like an inflated balloon, tapers towards the bottom to form a gondola, the attachment point for four electrified light arms.

- The cut glass pendants and bobeches come in a wide variety of shapes. Some are faceted, others smooth, in the form of drops, almonds, rosettes, octagons, or strings of pearls. In addition to their decorative effect, these glass shapes capture the light, multiply it, and make it shimmer on the walls.

This model is very likely a reference to the hot air balloon chandeliers that have inspired the decorative arts since the 18th century, with the difference that their composition is reversed: wide at the base, narrower at the top, and often adorned with chains of pendants. This type of chandelier was designed at the end of the 17th century after the Montgolfier brothers launched the first hot air balloon in 1783. The enthusiasm generated by this event was such that it inspired many artisans who adapted this aerial form to the decorative arts. Lighting designers, in particular, seized upon the silhouette of the balloon to create this chandelier model, characterized by its rounded shape and majesty.

In good condition, one pendant is missing (see photos). Electrified.

Dimensions: Height: 75 cm, Width: 35 cm