This display provides an in-depth look at a French chandelier made by the bronze caster and gilder Gérard Jean Galle in about 1818–19. Resembling a hot-air balloon, the chandelier is a work of extreme novelty that includes the signs of the zodiac and a glass bowl intended to hold water for small goldfish. Following contemporary taste, Galle adapted motifs found in ancient art to new forms of furniture creating an intriguing object that was thoroughly modern for its time.
See all sides of the chandelier in the rotating image below.
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The Goldfish in the Chandelier
Casie Kesterson
Illustrations by Gary Hovland
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Discover the backstory of the Galle Chandelier, one of the Getty’s most beloved objects.
Pick up a multimedia player free of charge in the Museum Entrance Hall.
A Novel Showpiece
Envision the chandelier with candlelight and goldfish in a fashionable room of the early 1800s.