Fine Pair of Maison Jansen Mid Century Chandeliers After a Design Attributed to Andre Arbus

A very finely made pair of French mid Century (c.1950) chandeliers after a design attributed to Andre Arbus, most probably made by Maison Jansen These chandeliers take cupid's arrow as their central design motif, the knop and arms extending from an arrow form pillar stem. Each light frame supports 6 lights with their original glass shades. The metalwork employs a combination of polished and patinated finishes for visual contrast. The lights on these pieces bear a striking similarity to the wall lights known to have been designed by Arbus such as the two pairs we have for sale and which would pair beautifully with these pieces. As the most influential designer working in France in the middle of the 20th century, Arbus' designs were produced not only by his own workshop but were also adapted by many of his competitors. The particular quality of fit and finish of the present pair is reminiscent of the pieces produced by the great decorators and manufacturers Maison Jansen and is possible that they may have been responsible for producing them. However Arbus also had a close working relationship with the lighting specialists Veronese and it is equally possible that they might have been responsible for these pieces. Pairs of chandeliers are rarely encountered, especially of such usable size in the modern home. Andr Leon Arbus (1903-1969):- Arbus was born in Toulouse but made his name in Paris having graduated from the Ecole des Beaux Arts. He frequently collaborated with other designers such as Poillerat, his suspected co-designer in this case, and made use of the talents of the great French manufacturers such as the Aubusson tapestry workshops and the house of Veronese, a great French lighting design house that continues to this day and may possibly have been responsible for the production of our pieces. After winning a medal at the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts and the Prix Blumenthal in 1934, Arbus was firmly ensconced at the centre of the art and design world in France, leading to a commission from the French Ministery of Agriculture in 1936. Arbus was to maintain a great relationship with the French government for the rest of his career, selling many pieces to the various government offices and interiors and even supplying pieces to be given as diplomatic gifts to heads of state. One of his grandest projects was the redecoration of the French Embassy in Washington in 1955.