Henri Rapin (1873–1939) & Charles Hairon (1880–1960) (attributed)
Six-arm chandelier in carved mahogany and alabaster, c. 1910
Height 134 cm, length 125 cm, width 83 cm.
This large chandelier stands out for its proportions, classical elegance and fine craftsmanship.
A long hexagonal shaft supports a shuttle-shaped element carved with palm leaves, from which extend six arms with alabaster cups that diffuse a soft light.
The painter and decorator Henri Rapin began his career with Art Nouveau; this chandelier, dating from the 1910s, prefigures the Art Deco style, of which Rapin was a leading figure in the classical movement.
He frequently used carved wood in his furniture, produced under his direction by the woodcarver Charles Hairon.
He distinguished himself through the interior design of part of Prince Asaka’s residence in Tokyo, completed in 1933, his masterpiece, which later became the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum.
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