French Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze + Alabaster Chandelier, 1920s

A French Louis XVI style chandelier from circa 1920, where the scale and natural character of alabaster are balanced by the intricate detail of gilt bronze.

At its center is a substantial carved alabaster bowl, softly rounded beneath a raised rim and animated by dramatic gray and charcoal veining. A bowl of this size required a considerable block of stone, carefully hollowed and carved thin enough to allow light to pass through while retaining the strength needed for suspension. When illuminated, the alabaster takes on a warm, diffuse glow, with the natural veining becoming part of the chandelier’s atmosphere.

Gilt bronze ornament follows the perimeter of the stone, including finely modeled floral garlands of roses, leaves and blossoms. Six scrolling arms extend around the bowl, each detailed with fluting, foliate decoration and classical bobeches. Individual fabric shades soften the light from above, while additional bulbs concealed within the alabaster illuminate the stone from within.

Three long, sweeping supports rise from the bowl toward an elaborate ceiling mount. Along the upper structure, geometric Greek key details are paired with suspended laurel swags, while acanthus leaves and other classical motifs bring a more sculptural quality to the bronze. The contrast is characteristic of the Louis XVI vocabulary, symmetry and architectural order tempered by delicate naturalistic ornament.

What makes the chandelier particularly special is the relationship between material and light. Unlit, the alabaster reads as a substantial piece of richly veined stone framed by aged gilt bronze; illuminated, the bowl becomes almost translucent, casting a softer light beneath the brighter perimeter shades.