A GEORGE III CUT GLASS CHANDELIER BY MOSES LAFOUNT, English, circa 1795
Diameter: 32 in; 81.5 cm
Further images
An extremely rare and important late 18th century cut glass and ormolu eight light chandelier by Moses Lafount, having a central stem of slender proportion, with a glass finial and dish above, and a ceiling corona hung with glass drops; fitted with the patented Lafount arm-plate to the centre issuing eight down-curved arms with Van Dyke candle nozzles and drip pans, and eight outscrolled tops, together forming a continuous curve, and hung with swags of glass drops.
Note: This amazing chandelier survives in remarkable condition, and retains all the original glass, with only one dish repaired, as well as all the original mercury gilding to the metal parts. The patented arm-plate is stamped 'LAFOUNT PATENT' three times and is numbered 364.
Literature
Percy Macquoid and Ralph Edwards, The Dictionary of English Furniture, Vol. I, revised edition 1954, p.337, fig. 26, a similar chandelier by Lafount.
H. Parrott Bacot, Nineteenth Century Lighting-Candle Powered Devices 1783-1883,West Chester Pennsylvania 1987, p.238, A chandelier by Lafount of similar design.
Martin Mortimer, The English Glass Chandelier, Woodbridge 2000, pp. 120-125, pl. 64, A chandelier of similar unusual design, also by Lafount.
