Dutch 17th century chandelier

A chandelier with six arms of good size. It is possible that this chandelier was commissioned for a representative space, such as a governors’ chamber, in one of the many almshouses in the Netherlands. Alternatively, it could have been intended for a church. There were countless smaller churches that all needed sources of light – for larger buildings, chandeliers with two or three rows of arms were used.

Elias Eliasz (1608–1652) established his business on the Nieuwendijk in Amsterdam in 1641, supported by his son, who went by the same name. In 1642 they took up the surname Van Vliet. The house where they resided was appropriately known as “In de Gecroonde Kerckkron”, which translates to “in the crowned church chandelier”.

Although their well-known monogram EEV, which was often applied underneath the suspension ring, is not present, there are good grounds for attributing this chandelier to these productive makers. As was established by the research undertaken by Bé Dubbe into this family of foundry casters, one of their most distinctive features appears to be the use of mushroom shaped ornaments underneath the suspension ring. Such ornaments occur on many chandeliers of various sizes which bear the EEV monogram, both with and without date. Chandeliers with a cone-shaped stem generally date from around 1650, while the baluster shape and in particular the mushroom ornament underneath the hanging ring is encountered after this date. Chandeliers by Elias Eliasz van Vliet can also be recognized by their highly balanced and perfect proportions.

The large number of chandeliers in Protestant churches in the Netherlands was a result of the Reformation. The emphasis on reading biblical texts and the singing of psalms in the national language by the entire religious community called for adequate lighting – not just near the pulpit, but throughout the entire nave of the church. Light also became increasingly valued within houses, especially in rooms where visitors were received. Countless paintings with interior scenes show chandeliers as the gleaming center and focus of a room.