It must be remembered that lighting until the beginning of the 20th Century largely depended on candles, gas, oil or fire. Only then did the use of electricity become more common-place. It is not surprising that hanging lights appealed to a progressive designer like René Lalique and so by 1902 he had begun designing them. He produced 20 versions to be executed in cire perdue, with a production range including a staggering 135 designs. Lights mattered to Lalique and his creations are still much appreciated around the world today. He was a genius in his utilising varied techniques; so in this chandelier we see him combining intaglio, moulded, clear and frosted glass - all adding interest as light plays over the surfaces and penetrates them. He also used staining to provide greater definition of details.
The subject of La Chasse is a long-established subject in both fine and applied works of art and one that Lalique returned to on a number of occasions. Lalique used it on a plate, bowl and vase but this chandelier is the largest and most impressive example of them all. It provided an opportunity for Lalique to display his passion for nature – both flora and fauna - the inspiration behind so many of his designs. In the chandelier, he positioned the trees in the plates while the animals are focussed around the central dish form which spatially creates a sense of the stags running through the forest pursued by dogs.
