A RUSSIAN ORMOLU TWELVE-LIGHT CHANDELIER

This classically-inspired chandelier relates to a design by the Italian-born architect Karl Ivanovich (Carlo) Rossi, reproduced in I. Sychev, Russkie svetilniki epokhi klassitsizma (Russian chandeliers of the classical epoch), St. Petersburg, 2003. p. 182. Carlo Rossi (1777-1849) became one of the most important architects and designers in Russia in the early 19th century, working at Pavlovsk from 1814 and becoming Court Architect in 1816.

A similar chandelier at Pavlovsk designed by Rossi and attributed to the German bronzier Ivan Dipner, who executed Rossi's designs at Mikhailovsky Palace and Pavlovsk, is illustrated in A. Koutchoumov, Russian Decorative Art in the Collection of the Pavlovsk Palace Museum, Leningrad, 1981, ill. 85. Another related chandelier attributed to Dipner after a design by Rossi was with Ariane Dandois and is illustrated in the 2000 catalogue, no. 27. A further related example in a Russian museum decorated with lyres, cupids and roses is reproduced here and illustrated in K.A. Solovlev, Russian Decorative Arts of the XVIII-XIX Centuries, Moscow, 1950, pls. 223-224.