A German Neoclassical Gilt-Metal, Bronzed Wood and Cut-Glass Mounted Twenty-Four Light Chandelier, After a Design by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, Circa 1835

Carl August Mencke and Schwitzky worked for the K.P.M. Factory in Berlin before Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III gave them the manufacture patent for the invention of bronzed wood. From then Mencke played a major role in numerous interiors designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel.

Karl Friedrich Schinkel (1781-1841) was the principal architect to the Prussian court and supplied a number of chandeliers comparable to the offered example including chandeliers supplied for the Prinz August Palais (see E. Bartke, Karl Friedrich Schinkel, 1781-1841, 1982, fig. 290) and the Prinz Karl Palais (see J. Sievers, Karl Friedrich Schinkel, Lebenswerk, Die Möbel, 1950, figs. 237-238).

A closely comparable chandelier is reproduced, Karl Friedrich Schinkel, Catalogue of Castles, Gardens and Cultural Properties in Prussia, 1981, p. 314, fig. 274, fig. 1. 

A virtually identical chandelier from the collection of Garrick C. Stephenson was sold, Christie's New York, 29 October1993, lot 196.

An almost identical chandelier with twenty-four lights formerly in the Minister's banquet room, Christiansburg, Copenhagen was sold, Christie's New York, 27 March 1977, lot 191.

A comparable twelve-light chandelier with identical molded borders fitted with anthemia and with identical curved candle branches was sold, Sotheby's New York, 23 May 2003, lot 242.

Another was sold in the Ariane Dandois Sale, Sotheby's New York, 24-25 October 2007, lot 252A.

Another identical but Eight-Light Chandelier was sold Sotheby's New York, 3 October, 2008, lot 298 for $152,500

Each of these examples had identical molded bands with anthemia and curved candle branches and all are attributed to this celebrated architect and designer.