Speaking of wtf nine-candle lighting fixtures, @octavio-world just reblogged this absolutely magnificent photo of an 18th century “German or French” gilt-and-porcelain chandelier in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum since 1974.
It was photographed, presumably in situ, at the East 66th St home of its owner/donor, Mrs Emma Sheafer, with a scraggly dark cloth behind it, tacked to the ceiling. In the 50 years since, the Metropolitan Museum has not felt the need to document it any further. And really, why mess with perfection? The Met in the 70s really was a golden age of show-the-museum-construct registrar photography while scooping up an entire collection. Very Thomas Hoving.
The Lesley and Emma Sheafer Collection comprises over 642 objects, a remarkable 119 of which are on display; it’s a lot of Meissen dishes and tchotchkes, though there is one other flower-encrusted chandelier, with better provenance—and a proper photo—which is on view.