RUSSIE Important lustre de style Empire Lot n° 37

In gilt bronze and cut crystal with thirty lights. The central ring in chased gilt bronze with alternating decoration of crowned palmettes and swan-headed lyres, topped by 12 lights and from which 12 other arms of light in the form of scrolls and volutes are formed, the central bowl in cut crystal of gadroons ending with an alternating decoration of stars of David and stars in rosette, it rests on a stylized pine cone in gilt bronze. The upper part receiving 6 arms of light, topped by a tazza supported by swans. The whole is supported by 6 chains with links fixed at the top by a crown decorated with palmettes and foliage. Very good condition, mounted with electricity. Work attributed to Alexandre Guérin, Saint Petersburg, around 1820-1830. H : 150 - Diam : 120 cm Literature - Igor Sychev, The Russian Chandeliers. 1760-1830, Saint Petersburg, 2003, p. 126, n° 572. - Igor Sychev, Russian Bronze, Moscow, 2003, p. 111. History This imposing chandelier is in every way similar to the work of Alexandre Guérin, a famous French bronzemaker of the early 19th century whose workshop was located in St. Petersburg, known as the largest private bronze foundry in Russia. He was very successful between 1804 and 1841, especially thanks to his partnership with the French sculptor Julien Chopin, who was of great importance for the development of the factory. Chopin not only sent Guerin from France the necessary equipment, founders and other craftsmen, but also provided popular models for casting at the factory. Thus, inspired by the models of the French bronziers, Alexandre Guérin produced numerous chandeliers, candelabras, girandoles, inkwells, lamps in an elegant and perfectly mastered Empire style, some of which were directly inspired by the models of Pierre-Philippe Thomire. Guérin succeeded in combining the French know-how of cast iron with the Russian iconographic repertoire in order to propose truly original creations such as our chandelier, of imposing dimensions. The presence of stars of David in the crystal may evoke a special order from a sponsor of Jewish faith.