American, circa 1849, three piece set, two single candleholders and one three arm candelabra, each with ornate metal work in floral pattern and design of "Bigelow Chapel", 50 crystal prism drops, each on stone base, marked on backs "W. F. Shaw/174 Washington St., Boston/Patent Dec 18, 1849", largest 16-3/4 x 17-1/4 in.

Identical garnitures are on display at the MFA Boston (1981.411) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (1983.97.2).

Met: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/3985?ft=girandole&offset=0&rpp=40&pos=1

MFA Boston: https://collections.mfa.org/objects/41232/mantel-garniture--candelabra?ctx=112f5be0-8d26-4974-85f6-318d277397b5&idx=19

Background on Important Private Collection from Boston:
I have been working with this collector for over 25 years, both in the initial acquisition of the objects and overseeing their conservation as needed. With a keen eye for quality and design, and a deep passion for all things classical, he has quietly amassed a top-notch collection of American furniture and decorative arts. The collection encompasses outstanding examples from the leading cabinetmakers of Boston, New York, and Philadelphia, representing excellence in form and proportions, condition, wood quality, and carving. It also includes rare objects that are among the best of their kind. Now, with the downsizing of one of his properties, the offerings in this catalog are coming to market to find new owners who share a love for this remarkable period in American furniture history.
Clark Pearce,
Advisor and Consultant to Collectors and Institutions

Provenance: Property from an Important Boston Collection

loss to gilt, warping to metal, surface accretion, chips, air bubbles, and flea bites to crystal, six mismatched crystal prisms