Amsterdam: 17th Century Model Brass Chandelier With 30 Lights H250xW230

Amsterdam's curving canals and gabled mansions have long inspired artists who sought to capture the city's romantic spirit. During the Golden Age, old masters like Rembrandt and Vermeer were drawn to Amsterdam, where a thriving art market allowed them to innovate new techniques and styles. In the 20th century, the Amsterdam School architectural movement flourished, mixing Art Nouveau and expressionist influences into creative designs. Today, visitors flock to the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum to admire Dutch artistic delights, while street artists and contemporary exhibitions continue the creative legacy of this haven for the arts.

The Amsterdam model is the largest chandelier Brink & van Keulen has in its collection and is completely solid cast. This model weighs approx. 450 kg. The original hangs in the Portuguese Synagogue in Amsterdam. One of the few buildings in the Netherlands where original brass chandeliers can still be seen in all their glory is the Portuguese Synagogue dating from 1671-1675 in Amsterdam. The chandeliers are still lit by candles, as there is no electric light. The 26 brass chandeliers with their 300 candles are the only source of light in the 'Snoge'. It takes one and a half hours to light them. In the 17th century, the synagogue was furnished with old and new brass chandeliers, wall arms and candlesticks of all shapes and sizes from the workshops of the well-known Amsterdam yellow-casters Hans Rogiers (of Harelbeke) and Elias Eliasz. van Vliet. The four chandeliers in the nave are large spherical crowns of the Dutch type, each of three tiers with a total of thirty arms.

Original historical moulds from that era are used to make the brass parts. They are also still cast the old-fashioned way in a greasy type of sand called Brussels earth. After the crown is varnished, skilled craftsmen assemble the parts. Electric wires run subtly along the arms as they are made of solid brass. The arms and curls are soldered together. As the crowns are assembled, electrical wiring and lighting components are discreetly placed.

Brink & van Keulen, a family business founded in 1946, upholds the art of casting by producing brass chandeliers of the highest calibre. Chandeliers by Brink en van Keulen can be found in a number of prestigious churches and monumental buildings in the Netherlands and other parts of the world. Through the transfer of knowledge over many generations, Brink & van Keulen has made an important contribution to the preservation of the Dutch yellow casting craft. The company is the only manufacturer of chandeliers with original casting moulds from the 17th century in the whole of Europe.

• 17th century edition
• 3 levels
• 30 arms
  
• 230 cm / 90.5 inches wide
• 250 cm / 98.5 inches high