The chandelier that hangs at Urach, decorated with wild flowers and vines, lent light to the festive table of Duke Carl Eugen and his illustrious guests. The floral chandelier of iron is one of the original pieces from the White Hall circa 1765.
Duke Carl Eugen dined in the White Hall.
Today, the White Hall is strikingly accented by the colorful floral chandelier. The room was decorated around 1765 by Duke Carl Eugen and used as a dining hall. Urach Palace served as an intimate retreat for the duke, where he could relax with close friends. The filigreed stucco in the White Hall capture Carl Eugen’s favorite pastimes when at Urach: hunting and music. They likely originated from Valentin Sonnenschein and were extensively restored in the 1960s.
Blossoms of iron.
The floral chandelier of iron is comprised of a bewitching variety of replicated blossoms. The bounty becomes clear upon closer inspection: wild flowers, acanthus, artichoke, hibiscus, coltsfoot, hepatica, carnation, rose, silver thistle, sunflower, holly, and globeflower. The tulip, a luxury flower especially coveted in the Baroque period, is likewise present in the floral bouquet. Like the flowers, the green vines on the chandelier are vivid and lush.
Floral chandelier with lavish blossoms.
The floral chandelier supposedly originated in France around 1765. It is one of the original items from the White Hall. The exuberant blossoms hide the chandelier's structural framework almost completely. The chandelier's newel post consists of several golden balls, decreasing in size as they descend. The double strand of s-shaped chandelier arms extend from here, designed as flower garlands.
Stucco detail in the White Hall.
At the end of the 18th century, artists drew on the richness of forms found in nature to create interiors that would meet the passion for delicate and fluid decor. The inexhaustible diversity of the plant world offered a constant source of inspiration. Court society had also discovered an interest in the beauty of nature in the Swabian Alb. The floral chandelier was one way in which they brought this natural experience into the palace interior.
