Girandole

Object/Artifact

-

Historic Hudson Valley

Name/Title

Girandole

Entry/Object ID

SS.62.236

Description

Girandole, shape of a Gothic-style church: single vase-shaped candle socket, decorated with repousse leaves, with lip, decorated with repousse petals; socket surrounded by ovoid band of openwork and repousse flowers and vines, from which hang 10 two-piece cut glass floral decorated prisms; socket supported by stalk-like shaft, which springs from top of Gothic church; church has many Gothic-revival features: pointed arches in three partite facade, two tall flanking towers, two smaller front towers, five buttressing towers at side, large rose window in facade; set on rectangular white marble base, and secured with bolt and nut; mold-inscribed on back: "PATENT DEC.18 18(41?)."

Made/Created

Artist Information

Artist

William F. Shaw

Attribution

Maker

Date made

circa 1840 - 1847

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Inscription

Transcription

See description

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Overall

Height

13-5/8 in

Width

7-7/8 in

Depth

3-3/4 in

Dimension Notes

Display Dimensions: 13 5/8 x 7 7/8 x 3 3/4 in. (34.6 x 20 x 9.5 cm)

Material

Brass (cast), Marble, Glass

Condition

Notes

Remarks: Details of condition: Lower half of glass pendant missing on one of pair.

Relationships

Related Entries

Notes

SS.62.237 - Girandole - One of pair

General Notes

Note Type

Curatorial Remarks

Note

According to curator Kate Johnson: "The direct tie between the gothic and religion is represented in the exhibition by a pair of girandoles, or candelabra, decorated by a cast image of a church, Bigelow Chapel. Built in 1844, the chapel ornamented the grounds of Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was named for the man who conceived of the idea of this cemetery-park. The gothic-revival style was quite at home in the area of Boston, the 'city on the hill,' for centuries a religious and intellectual center. With their gilded brass bases and cut prisms, the girandoles do not fit into the sober and somber aesthetic associated with nineteenth-century gothic. While neither of the pair seen at Sunnyside bears a complete maker's stamp, identical examples are marked "W/F/SHAW/270 WASH'N ST/BOSTON/PATENT/DEC 18 1849."

Note Type

General Note

Note

One of pair

Note Type

StorageNote

Note

Home Location: Historic Hudson Valley, Sunnyside, Study