A Pair of Ormolu Chandeliers 54 x 19 inches

A pair of Ormolu, giltwood, rock crystal and cut glass with five arms of light. Shell shaped basin decorated with branches of flowers. Part 18th Century. H54 x 45cm. Restorations. Previously aquired from Louvre des Antiquities. Ormolu refers to a bronze object that has been covered with gold, typically 18 karat or 24 karat. For that reason, ormolu is sometimes called gilt bronze or, in French, bronze doré. however, the term ormolu also denotes the technique of applying gold to a metal. Ormolu was a luxury material made by only the most skilled craftsmen. The process of casting the bronze and gilding it was time-consuming and painstaking, requiring great dexterity. It was an art form in its own right