Five-Arm Gilt Iron Palm Tree Chandelier in the Style of Coco Chanel, French Work, Circa 1970

A dramatic five-arm chandelier in gilt iron fashioned as a stylised palm tree, each of the five branches terminating in a candle light nestled among gilded fronds. The gilt ironwork is executed with a lively decorative sensibility, the trunk and fronds modelled with sufficient botanical detail to read as convincingly naturalistic while retaining the formality and symmetry demanded of a fine luminaire. The warm gilding transforms the iron into a shimmering, luxurious object that fills any space with theatrical grandeur.

The palm tree motif carries in French decorative art a long and distinguished history, from the Egyptian campaign furniture of the Empire period to the exotic eclecticism of the late 19th century. In the 20th century, however, it became particularly associated with the world of Coco Chanel, whose iconic apartment at 31 rue Cambon was populated with gilded wheat sheaves, Coromandel lacquer screens, and an abundance of natural motifs expressing her idiosyncratic vision of opulence. The palm tree, suggestive of distant sun-drenched shores, fitted perfectly into this vocabulary of luxurious exoticism that Chanel made her own.

This chandelier, in the spirit of Chanel's aesthetic, brings to any interior the same marriage of naturalistic whimsy and aristocratic refinement that characterised the great couturière's taste. Whether suspended in an entrance hall, a dining room, or a salon, its gilded fronds will catch the light and animate the room with a festive, romantic splendour.