Accession Number
1986.146.4

Title
Chandelier, from the library of the Henry O. Havemeyer house, New York

Artist(s)
Louis Comfort Tiffany

Object Creation Date
1890-1891

Medium & Support
favrile glass and bronze

Dimensions
75 in x 35 in (190.5 cm x 88.9 cm);81 ¼ in x 42 ¼ in x 42 ½ in (206.38 cm x 107.32 cm x 107.95 cm)

Credit Line
University purchase 1930, transferred to the Museum of Art, 1986.146.4

Label copy
March 28, 2009
The beading design visible on the central post of this magnificent chandelier and elaborated in other portions was carried into the furnishings of the library, including the desk, chairs, and the andirons (which are in the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts). In this way Tiffany was able to harmonize an entire room’s decoration based on a single simple motif. It is believed that the inspiration for the library chandelier may have come from Celtic and Viking art. The golden half-globes of glass on the bottom of the structure were blown into molds, including the large central half-globe. The chandelier would have originally been fitted for gas illumination, although it was later converted to electricity.

Subject matter
Designed for the library of the Havemeyer house, this chandelier shares design motifs that were found in other furnishings in the room. The anirons (now in the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts), chairs, and other objects had the same beading motif seen in the post of the chandelier. The decoration of the Havemeyer house comes shortly before Tiffany's chapel designed for the World Columbian Exposition and this chandelier, like elements of the chapel, reflect Tiffany's appreciation of Byzantine design.

Physical Description
Chandelier consists of a bronze post with eight arms (inset with colored glass) from which hangs two rings of yellow translucent glass half-dome glass surrounding a single, large yellow glass half-dome globe in the center.

Primary Object Classification
Decorative Arts

Primary Object Type
chandelier

Collection Area
Western

Rights
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Keywords
architectural elements
chandeliers (hanging lights)