Ontwerp voor een kroonluchter c. 1825 - 1835

This is a design for a chandelier by Firma Feuchère. Such ornamental designs were important in the 19th century, as new methods of industrial production and increased trade opened up new markets for luxury goods. Firma Feuchère was a French firm that specialized in bronze and ormolu objects, and designs like this would have been used to attract wealthy clients looking to furnish their homes in the latest styles. The design itself is a riot of rococo motifs. Notice the curves, the floral elements, and the overall sense of opulent display. The image creates meaning through the connotations of luxury and wealth. We can look to sources such as trade records and design catalogues to understand better how firms like Feuchère operated within the changing economies of 19th-century Europe. The interpretation of art is contingent on understanding its economic and institutional context.