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Article: French gilt-bronze.
- Article from:
- The Magazine Antiques
- Article date:
- October 1, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Brant Publications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Centuries ago, as day turned into night and darkness descended, flickering candles and the soft glow emanating from fireplaces were the only sources of illumination available. To maximize this limited amount of light, objects were made to be reflective. In France, for example, highly polished furniture was enhanced with gilt-bronze decorative mounts and hardware; yards and yards of silk were fashioned into curtains and upholstery; large looking glasses were hung in prominent locations; shiny fabrics were made up into dresses and coats; chandeliers were hung with hundreds of crystal prisms; and gilt-bronze candleholders and sconces were placed on tables and mounted on ...