Ref. 1663/14

H. Vian

Bronze-caster (1860-1905)
(attributed to)

Chandelier  « aux Têtes de Bélier »

France
Circa 1890

Crystal, Gilded bronze

Height : 80 cm (315 in.) ; Diameter : 55 cm (21,6 in.)

Charming Louis XVI style chandelier in gilded bronze, clear and amber cut crystal with six lights.

The central shaft, formed by a succession of balusters in cut and faceted crystal, is connected to the light-arms by garlands of pearls. The beaded basins are adorned with a ram’s head, and the whole is decorated with cut crystal drops, diamonds and prisms.

Biography

Henri Vian, a bronze-caster active in the second half of the 19th Century, made a lot of interior decorations with chimney mantelpieces, ormolu and patinated-mounted vases, chandeliers… He produced articles of the highest quality. The signature can be either in script, usually with a lower case first letter for his Christian name as on these vases, or more commonly with initials h.V. in later pieces. The business, located at 5 rue de Thorigny in Paris (Salé Mansion, now Picasso Museum), was continued by Madame Vian after her husband’s death in 1905.