Beschreibung:

Jacques Grüber, Louis Majorelle and Verrerie de Nancy (Daum) French, 1870-1936 and 1859-1926 Art Nouveau Chandelier, circa 1903-1904 Acid-etched, enameled and leaded glass and bronze This chandelier was made for the residence of Paul Luc, 25 rue de Malzéville, à Nancy. Height overall 59 inches, height of each pendant globe 21 inches, overall diameter 36 inches. Provenance: Private purchase by the consignor in France circa 2001. Public auction: Rouillac de Vendome, 13Eme Garden Party à Cheverny, Château de Cheverny, Cheverny, France, June 10, 2001, . In the collaborative hands of Jacques Grüber, Louis Majorelle and Daum Frères, an otherwise ordinary chandelier has seemingly and without effort experienced a metamorphosis and has been transformed into a naturalistic organic flower, forever captured at the pinnacle of its beauty and peak bloom. Truly evocative of L'Art Nouveau, this exceedingly rare and spectacular bronze and leaded glass chandelier with its three colorful and vibrant pendant blossoms, inspired by nature and evocative of butterfly wings, was installed in about 1903 in the residence or hôtel particulier of Paul Luc, located at 25, Rue de Malzéville, in Nancy, France. Luc's home was certainly magnificent. It was built between 1901 and 1902 on a large parcel of land that he shared with his younger brother Victor, who also built a residence next door at 27, rue de Malzéville. The impressive chandelier reputedly adorned the interior entrance of this building. The home was also decorated with a beautiful stained glass landscape window by Grüber called "Paysage des Vosges," and included original woodwork designs by Majorelle. The house still stands today. The chandelier is formed by three vertical leaf-tipped bronze stem-like branches that terminate in three magnificent blossoms that surround a central horizontal disk. From below, the view is of a beautiful tranquil pond scene, executed in etched and enameled glass, depicting white water lilies with yellow centers, sumptuous dark green and lime green veined lily pads that overlap and other pink and yellow textured blossoms and arrowhead leaves, all against an aqua blue ground. Chandeliers such as this unique example are exceedingly rare. A related model decorated with hydrangeas, circa 1905, was gifted by Walter P. Chrysler, Jr., to the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1972. Majorelle's own residence, Villa Majorelle, also in Nancy, had a chandelier by Grüber and Majorelle, circa 1901, that illuminated the grand stairwell and was based on the theme of "Monnaie du pape." The theme of the silver dollar plant was further developed in Majorelle's stairway by two large windows made by Grüber having the same decoration. A chandelier described as "Un lustre électrique en bronze, au Gui l'an neuf," based on the theme of mistletoe, was exhibited at the Exposition de l'Alliance Provinciale des Industries d'Art Ecole de Nancy, in March 1903, and is illustrated in the official catalogue. A chandelier decorated with a seaweed design is in a private collection. C Property of an English Lady