AN IMPORTANT THIRTY LIGHT CUT AND MOULDED GLASS SPANISH CHANDELIER
By the Real Fábrica de la Granja

SPANISH, circa 1880

Height: 92in (233.7cm)
Diameter: 64in (162.5cm)

An important thirty light cut and moulded glass chandelier the main receiver plate supporting twenty four slip over candle arms arranged on two tiers these with drop hung drip pans the down arms separated by twisted crooks below the receiver bowl there is a drop hung canopy and baluster shaped finial the main baluster shaped shaft supporting gilt glass receiver bowls from which there are double kick arms with drop hung drip pans and finials these separated by Shepherd's crooks the next tier with six slip over candle arms and drop hung pans these separated by twisted down crooks and double kick Shepherd's crooks the chandelier terminating with another gilt glass bowl and Shepherd's crooks the chandelier hung with eight sided half back spangles and finely cut flake drops

Provenance:

Acquired by Mexican private collector in Madrid, 1926

Bibliography:

Paloma Pastor Rey de Viñas, Andrés Velasco Pilar, Las Arañas de la Granja: procesos de deterio y métodos de intervención, Jornadas Nacionales sobre Restauración y Conservación de Vidrios, pp. 199-204 shows an analysis of the chandelier at the Cathedral of Burgo de Osma, which is of similar scale and style to this one.

La Real Fábrica de la Granja

The Real Fábrica de la Granja was granted its first Royal licence in 1727. This was necessary as it was founded on Crown land at the royal palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso, in the region of Segovia near Madrid. In 1736 it was then put under Royal Protection due to the needs for glass in various palaces that were being constructed, but it was King Felipe IV who, inspired by the Royal Factories founded by his grandfather King Louis XIV of France, decided to increase the range and quality of the produce. He travelled to France in 1745 in search of master glass makers to bring back to Spain to launch new projects at the foundary. These artesans brought a French influence to the style of pieces being produced, which had previously been influenced almost exclusively by Venetian glass.

In the last quarter of the 18th Century the emphasis shifted to a more English style. English and Irish glass makers had shown themselves to be superior and through the Príncipe de Asturias, later to be Carlos IV, and indeed the Duque de Fernán Núñez, ambassador to London, the workers at La Granja began to adopt a more English style. Joshua Ketilby, was known to have visited the factory at this time to advise on the composition of crystal glass and he stayed for four years, although the Spanish masters claimed that he taught them "nothing new".

Amongst the wide and varied production at La Granja, that of chandeliers was considered amongst the most important. Examples of other types of glasswork from La Real Fábrica de la Granja can be found at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, the Royal Palace, Madrid, the Prado, Madrid, and The Hermitage, Moscow.