Bronze chandeliers in Latvia: from 16th to 18th century
About
Chandeliers are the most ornate and extravagant form of lighting ever devised. Over centuries, the forms and décor of chandeliers sensitively and expressively reacted to constant changes in European culture. They are characterised by a variety of materials (iron, wood, horn, brass, rock crystal, glass, artificial crystal, porcelain, tin or papier-mâché) and different types (melusines, crown-shaped, one shaft, dish-light).
In the rich history of Latvian lighting devices, bronze chandeliers in the 17th and 18th centuries occupy an important place. It can be stated that this is probably the largest and most valuable group of surviving chandeliers in Latvia. They were produced by famous local and migrating bronze casters. In addition, imported wares from Northern, Western or Central Europe are known. This catalogue is the first attempt to group and take a broader look at the heritage of one group of the bronze chandeliers in Latvia in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Selection of chandeliers
Due to the turbulent history of the Latvian state, a part of chandeliers have reached our times. This catalogue contains all currently known survived bronze chandeliers in the 17th and 18th centuries in Latvia, namely over 50 chandeliers from 35 different storage locations. Almost 90 per cent of the chandeliers are from Evangelical Lutheran churches, some from Catholic churches, secular interiors and Latvian museums. Chandeliers held in private interiors or private collections are hardly accessible and were not included in the catalogue.
Data selection
Each item in the database contains the photographs taken in 2021–2022 and details of the time, place, materials and techniques used to manufacture the chandelier. Dimensions, inventory number in the museum’s register (when stored in the museum) or number in the Register of Cultural Heritage (when the chandelier is protected by the state), number of arms and inscriptions on the ware are also provided. As the catalogue contains only bronze chandeliers, and all of them have the same stem structure, no attention is paid to the description of their shape. Where possible, historical images of the wares, data from written sources, information on restoration work, copies, lost parts and known analogues in foreign countries are provided.
This catalogue is a part of Alante Valtaite-Gagac’s postdoctoral research, funded by the European Social Fund under the No 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-19-0135 ‘Manufacturing, Development and Survival of Brass Chandeliers in the 16th – 18th Century: Case Studies in Lithuania and Latvia’ measure. Data were collected during the two years of the Project (2020–2022). In Lithuania, Alantė Valtaitė-Gagač has been analysing chandeliers since 2009. Its publications and the constantly updated catalogue on Lithuanian chandeliers can be found at: www.sietynupaveldas.lt