Chandelier (detail), about 1818–19, Gérard Jean Galle; gilt bronze, glass, painted copper, gilt tin, and iron armature. The J. Paul Getty Museum
Flight of Fancy: The Galle Chandelier
GETTY CENTER
The Getty Center
This is a past event
This display provides an in-depth look at a French chandelier made by the bronze caster and gilder Gérard-Jean Galle in about 1818–19. Resembling a hot-air balloon, the chandelier is a work of extreme novelty that includes the signs of the zodiac and a glass bowl intended to hold water for small goldfish. Following contemporary taste, Galle adapted motifs found in ancient art to new forms of furniture creating an intriguing object that was thoroughly modern for its time.