Leuchterweibchen and Lusterweibchen: Anthropomorphic Chandeliers of the 15th-17th Centuries

	Leuchterweibchen and Lüsterweibchen: Anthropomorphic Chandeliers of the 15^th-17^th Centuries
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BlackForestBear defines these as fixtures which “incorporated the torso of a bare-breasted maiden, hunter or monk who appeared to hover above the room's occupants on antler wings. Early examples of these chandeliers were illustrated in a manuscript by Willem Vrelant in the university library at Erlanger and in engravings by Lucas Cranach, circa 1540.” While most of them are female, there are a few male examples (Leuchtermännchen). More information can be found on German Wikipedia. Lüsterweibchen (side) c. 1425; the oldest known example Lüsterweibchen, late Middle Ages Lüsterweibchen, 15th century Geweihleuchter of a lady in a hennin, c. 1450-1500 Lüsterweibchen, Upper Rhine or Swabia, c. 1500 Leuchterweibchen made in Basel (carved by Martin Lebzelter?) c. 1510-1515 Leuchterweibchen (actually a man and a woman) with a coat of arms, c. 1501-1515 (also front and detail) Lüsterweibchen (carved by Tilman Riemenschneider?) c. 1510-1515 Leuchterweibchen from South Tyrol, c. 1510-1520 Sketch of a leuchterweibchen by Albrecht Dürer, 1513 Lucretia, c. 1520-1530 Drachenleuchter (a three-headed dragon), 1522 (more pictures here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here) Dragon on antlers in the style of the lüsterweibchen, 16th century Lustreweibshen, 16th century Germany Leuchterweißchen, 16th century Germany Leuchterweibchen from Heideck, 16th century (front, side) Lüsterweibchen with coat of arms, 16th century Lüsterweibchen with dolphin's tail, 16th century Lüsterweibchen with dolphin's tail and coat of arms, 16th century Lüsterweibchen with dolphin's tail and coat of arms, 16th century Leuchtermännchen with coat of arms, 16th century Lustreweibshen (mermaid), 16th or early 17th century Germany Geweihleuchter with a lady playing a lute, c. 1595-1605 Lüsterweibchen with a fish tail, c. 1600 Lüsterweibchen with dolphin's tail, c. 1600 Lüsterweibchen with an inscribed panel, c. 1600 Lüsterweibchen with a dolphin's tail, holding a harp, 17th century Lüsterweibchen with a fishtail and a coat of arms, first half of the 17th century Lüsterweibchen with a dolphin's tail, first half of the 17th century Lüsterweibchen with a fishtail, holding a torch, first half of the 17th century A lüsterweibchen from southern Germany (undated) Another undated example

Leuchterweibchen and Lüsterweibchen:
Anthropomorphic Chandeliers of the 15^th-17^th Centuries

The Limewood Sculptors of Renaissance Germany

BlackForestBear defines these as fixtures which “incorporated the torso of a bare-breasted maiden, hunter or monk who appeared to hover above the room's occupants on antler wings. Early examples of these chandeliers were illustrated in a manuscript by Willem Vrelant in the university library at Erlanger and in engravings by Lucas Cranach, circa 1540.”

While most of them are female, there are a few male examples (Leuchtermännchen). More information can be found on German Wikipedia.

Lüsterweibchen (side) c. 1425; the oldest known example
Lüsterweibchen, late Middle Ages
Lüsterweibchen, 15th century
Geweihleuchter of a lady in a hennin, c. 1450-1500
Lüsterweibchen, Upper Rhine or Swabia, c. 1500
Leuchterweibchen made in Basel (carved by Martin Lebzelter?) c. 1510-1515
Leuchterweibchen (actually a man and a woman) with a coat of arms, c. 1501-1515 (also front and detail)
Lüsterweibchen (carved by Tilman Riemenschneider?) c. 1510-1515
Leuchterweibchen from South Tyrol, c. 1510-1520
Sketch of a leuchterweibchen by Albrecht Dürer, 1513
Lucretia, c. 1520-1530
Drachenleuchter (a three-headed dragon), 1522 (more pictures here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here)
Dragon on antlers in the style of the lüsterweibchen, 16th century
Lustreweibshen, 16th century Germany
Leuchterweißchen, 16th century Germany
Leuchterweibchen from Heideck, 16th century (front, side)
Lüsterweibchen with coat of arms, 16th century
Lüsterweibchen with dolphin's tail, 16th century
Lüsterweibchen with dolphin's tail and coat of arms, 16th century
Lüsterweibchen with dolphin's tail and coat of arms, 16th century
Leuchtermännchen with coat of arms, 16th century
Lustreweibshen (mermaid), 16th or early 17th century Germany
Geweihleuchter with a lady playing a lute, c. 1595-1605
Lüsterweibchen with a fish tail, c. 1600
Lüsterweibchen with dolphin's tail, c. 1600
Lüsterweibchen with an inscribed panel, c. 1600
Lüsterweibchen with a dolphin's tail, holding a harp, 17th century
Lüsterweibchen with a fishtail and a coat of arms, first half of the 17th century
Lüsterweibchen with a dolphin's tail, first half of the 17th century
Lüsterweibchen with a fishtail, holding a torch, first half of the 17th century
A lüsterweibchen from southern Germany (undated)
Another undated example