Art Deco French Silvered Bronze Chandelier by Georges Marius Boretti, Lyon, 1930

Details

Description

The sculptural frame features three finely cast and chased female figures, each seated on a stepped bracket. Each is draped … Read more The sculptural frame features three finely cast and chased female figures, each seated on a stepped bracket. Each is draped in the antique manner and holds out a basket overflowing with flowers and fruit, with a dove alighting in her hair and a stylized fan motif behind her. The iconography belongs squarely to the decorative vocabulary of the 1925 Paris Exposition, and the quality of the casting is exceptional. The chandelier holds three skyscraper-form molded glass shades: a larger central shade and two side shades. Each is star-shaped in plan with stepped tiers rising to a pointed crown. The exterior is acid-frosted, with the ridges left clear and polished, a refined treatment that catches the light beautifully. The stepped galleries echo the architectural lines of the shades. A rare figural model that unites French Art Deco sculpture with Machine Age skyscraper design. About the maker Georges Marius Boretti was a Lyon-based maker of art bronzes and lighting during the first half of the 20th century. His fixtures were renowned for their solid cast and chased bronze and their refined, restrained ornament. Established at 68 rue Waldeck-Rousseau in 1928, the firm opened a showroom at 27 place Tolozan in 1934. Boretti presented its new designs each year in a catalogue titled Art et Lumière and produced bespoke lighting for theatres, hotels, châteaux and public halls. Works by Boretti are held in private collections and appear regularly at auction. Comparable figural works by Boretti in silvered bronze, including a table lamp featuring a harlequin playing the bandoneon on a stepped base, have recently appeared on the market, illustrating the same sculptural quality and stepped Art Deco vocabulary seen in this chandelier. Very good vintage condition, consistent with age. The silvering shows a natural, light wear patina, and the shades are free of chips or cracks. Rewired. One old repair to the central gallery bracket, structurally sound. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



issues arising from misattribution,
Up to 250V (Europe/UK Standard).The wiring of this item may be original and might need replacement, if not specified otherwise. See less