| Description |
We
pride ourselves on being America's only French antique specialists in furniture
and accessories for castles, chateaus and country houses, where the old world
look of Neo-Gothic, Neo-Renaissance and their kindred styles of Louis XIII and
the country French appearance of some Louis XIV furniture, provide the look of
warmth and continuity that so many seek.
So, naturally, when this unusual chandelier became available from one of
our partners in France, we had to have it, in order to make it available to our
clients!
The
dragon chandelier was a phenomenon in Europe, and in France in particular in
the 1920s through the early war years. They usually have 6 arms (dragons) that
have colored glass lanterns or base up light bulbs, covered with a small lamp
shade, that come out of the mouths of the dragons. This one, like others, had deteriorated wiring and lamp
shades which had to be replaced. Unfortunately, lamp shades for base up lamps
in chandeliers are simply not available anywhere, except as custom-made items
at rather substantial cost. So in order to make the chandelier useable in the
United States, we had to re-wire and re-engineer the light sockets and shades.
In order to make it functional, to contain the wire in the small space afforded
by the central column, and to join all six sets of wires, we had to use small
gauge wire with thin insulation which may deteriorate more rapidly due to
rising heat from the lamps. This wire will safely accommodate light bulbs of up
to 50 watts each, yielding a total amount of light equal to about 300 watts. We
also anticipate that the chandelier will be controlled by a dimmer that can be
set so that the light is decreased, as is the heat. However, the heat from any
lamps will cause the wiring to become brittle eventually, and need replacement.
This was the problem with these chandeliers in the first place. The wire had
deteriorated directly above the light bulb, due to the heat.
It is
our estimation that the chandelier will give its owner many years of use and
enjoyment, with somewhat infrequent use, and not long hours of operation. We
have found that the brighter the light coming out of each bulb, the more the
human eye's iris closes down, and restricts the ability to discern details of
the dragons. If one uses the newer LED and mini-fluorescent candelabra base
lamps in the sockets, there is no heat, and so, virtually no
deterioration! So to see them best, the
light needs to be relatively dim. After all, the beauty of the piece is the
tone the dragons set for the room as they hang from the ceiling even if they
are not illuminated. We installed new sockets and canopies coming out of the
dragon's mouths, ending in a canopy which will accommodate any glass ceiling
fan style shade with a 2 1/4" fitter.
The
chandelier is made of what we estimate to be a soft wood such as pine, but has
been finished so as to resemble dark French walnut. The wings on the dragons
soar as they diffuse the light, and add dimensionality to the carving. Each of
the dragon's feet is attached to a large wooden turning, out of which arises a
carved central column in the shape of acanthus leaves. The faces of the fierce
dragons, with detailed ears, eyes and mouths, as well as the carved details of
the bodies and wings, create the perfect Gothic or Medieval look in the
appropriate setting.
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| Reference |
Boccador,
Jacqueline, Le Mobilier Français du Moyen Age à la Renaissance, Editions d'Art
Monelle Hayot (Saint-Just-en-Chaussée, 1988); Thirion, Jacques, Le Mobilier du
Moyen Age et de la Renaissance en France (Editions Faton, Dijon, 1998)
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