French (Paris), about 1818-19
Gérard-Jean Galle (1761-1844)
Glass; enameled metal; gilt bronze

Hanging from the ceiling of this gallery is an ornate and delicate chandelier measuring approximately four feet high by three feet in diameter. Its center is dominated by a celestial blue sphere, painted with five-pointed, gold stars. Around its circumference is a gilded band, decorated with small, detailed signs of the zodiac. From this decorative band spring eighteen candle holders: six of these are in the shape of griffins-creatures with the body of a lion and the head, wings, and claws of an eagle. These six support the top row of candles just above the gilded band. The remaining twelve candle holders are in the shape of stylized vines that spring from the band, curve down, then sweep up in a trumpet shape to hold the group of candles just below the band. All are symmetrically placed around the sphere. The balloon's "gondola" is a cut glass bowl, with a gilt bronze ornament around its rim. A small, faceted glass ball is suspended from the bowl. Large and small garlands of glass drops hanging between the gondola and candleholders mimic the ropes of the balloon. The combined materials would have glistened and sparkled in the candlelight.

The label reads: The form of this whimsical chandelier was inspired by the hot-air balloon. The blue globe with gold stars symbolizes the heavens; the twelve signs of the zodiac encircle it on the gilt-bronze band. When Galle first exhibited a chandelier of this model in 1819, he described it as a lustre à poissons (chandelier with fish) because the glass bowl below the globe was intended to hold goldfish swimming in water ". . . whose continuous movement amuses the eye most agreeably."