Lüstermännchen depicting Jonah and the Whale, Germany 17th century.

A Lüstermännchen depicting Jonah and the Whale.

German, 17th century.

Measures 79cm at its widest and 67cm in height.

The wooden chandelier is decorated in its original polychrome paint and is composed of a writhing whale wrestling with a triumphant Jonah who stands upon its back. Both the whale and the back of Jonah are set with antlers, the whales antlers with drilled holes to mount the six metal candle sconces which are later replacements. The underside of the chandelier is decorated with a gilt-wood carving of a scallop. There is a loop in the back of the figure of Jonah to suspend the chandelier.

Lusterweibchen is a style of chandelier. It has a horizontal antler fixed with a carved wooden sculpture. The German term “Lüsterweibchen” meaning ‘Little woman chandelier’, the male equivalent is a “Lüstermännchen” however other examples are known such as the Madonna, wild men, dragons, mermaids, knights, saints, putti, kings, queens and many others.

The first chandeliers in the lusterweibchen style appeared at the end of the 14th century. During the 16th century lusterweibchen chandeliers boomed, with famous designs by artists such as Albrecht Dürer, Veit Stoss, and Tilman Riemenschneider. They may have had an almost magical appeal, reflecting the spirit of the era. The most famous lusterweibchen design was a dragon chandelier carved by Veit Stoss according to a drawing by Albrecht Dürer.