A Gilt-Iron Naturalistic Chandelier

A wonderful 12 arm chandelier in gilded iron, of great scale and presence, the arms in the form of branches with leaves all issuing from a central shaft. In the taste of François-Xavier Lalanne (1927–2008) and Claude Lalanne (1924–2019)

France, circa 1970

 A substantial and characterful iron chandelier whose 12 arms have been wrought into gently curving branches with leaves all ‘growing’ from a central tapering staff.

The only example I have seen of this design, it has a strong sense of the almost surrealist ‘art furniture’ of François-Xavier Lalanne and Claude Lalanne. Their fantastical inventions were all rooted, more or less figuratively, in the natural world and in turn of course owed a debt to the work of Diego Giacometti (1902-1985).

These pieces are, in their way, the 20th century interpretation of the Rococo, the self conscious inclusion of flora, and occasionally fauna, into carved motifs that can form both the decoration and the structure of the piece of furniture.  These pieces have always been a foil to rigid, formal classicism and the current chandelier has a wonderful ability to sit equally well in an urban or country setting, in a period or totally contemporary room.  

Dimensions

Height 106cm | 41 ¾ in

Diameter 88cm | 34¾ in

For more information about this piece, or any of the other pieces on our website, please email info@evershed-martin.com or call + 44 7976 956 247