Antler figure chandelier

Antler figure chandelier

Height: 68 cm.
Width: 79 cm.
Depth: 75 cm.
Southern Germany, 17th century.

This chandelier, also known as a female chandelier, is made of carved, gilded and polychrome-painted lime wood and deer antlers and depicts the story of Jonah and the whale.

In the Old Testament, the book of Jonah tells of the prophet's adventures. After he refuses to convert the great city of Nineveh, he tries to flee across the sea. A heavy storm threatens to capsize the ship. Thrown into the water, he is swallowed up by a large sea creature. In the Vulgate, the most widely used version of the Bible in the Middle Ages, the creature is called "Piscis Grandis" (great fish) in the Book of Jonah and "Cetus" (sea monster) in the Gospel of Matthew. After a three-day stay in the belly of the giant beast, during which he is converted, Jonah is released unharmed.

St. Jonah shows a youthful and calm face, framed by beautiful curls fluttering in the wind. He is clad in a loincloth and is depicted standing on the sea creature, one hand on its jaw and the other on its tongue. The writhing whale fights against a triumphant Jonah. The backs of the whale and Jonah are both covered with deer antlers, and there are six burn marks on the antlers. The whale rests on a scallop shell made of gilded wood. An eyelet on the back of the Jonas figure allows the chandelier to be hung.

The female chandelier is a style of chandelier that combines a horizontal branch of antlers with a carved wooden figure. Since a female figure is not always depicted, the term antler-figure chandelier is more appropriately used. Other known depictions include Madonnas, wild men, dragons, mermaids, knights, saints, putti, kings and queens.

The first female chandeliers appeared at the end of the 14th century. They experienced a significant upswing in the 16th century, with famous works by artists such as Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528), Veit Stoss (around 1450-1533) and Tilman Riemenschneider (around 1460-1531). These candlesticks possibly possessed an almost magical charm that reflected the spirit of the time. The most famous model was a dragon chandelier carved by Veit Stoss after a design by Albrecht Dürer. (14209610) (13))