A French Empire discus chandelier

This twelfe-light discus crown is made of ormolu and partially brown patinated bronze.The ormolu candle arms extend into a bearded male head, the candle bearers.
The underside of the discus is decorated with a rosette of ormolu leaves, which converge into an ormolu pine cone.
In the centre of the crown an ormolu flame on a cassolette.
The gilt rings of the chains alternate with dark patinated rings in the form of ropes tied together. Animal heads shaped like panthers hold the chains in their mouths and carry the crown.

This discus crown is of high quality.
The bronze casting, patination and chasing is of high quality in their execution by the craftsmen before the French Revolution. These artisans had been trained by the guilds in the pre-Revolution guild system. At this time, there were still high demands on the quality of work

France, Empire circa 1810