IN THE MUSEUMS : Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 

Silver chandelier (Germany, 1735-1736) – Louis XV era

Extraordinary silver chandelier with 8 sconces adorned with acanthus leaves, lion’s paws, masks, horses of the House of Hanover and putti supporting the royal crown.

Stamped by Balthasar Friedrich BEHRENS after a drawing by William KENT.
Two identical chandeliers appear in the British royal collections.

Location : Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

This chandelier opens on eight moving sconces adorned with acanthus leaves.

Four sphinxes arranged symmetrically join the light arms and the shaft. The bobèches are finely chiselled with heart-shaped radishes and foliage. Going up the shaft, we discover a baluster shape embellished with a frieze with a circular pattern. In the upper part, a sphere decorated with mascarons, horses of the House of Hanover (breed of horses) and putti supporting the royal crown.

This object of great quality and finesse is part of a set of five other chandeliers commissioned by George II for the “Rittersaal” room at the LeineSchloss castle in Hanover, located in Germany.