Hot air balloons, griffins, and goldfish

April 9, 2019 4:37 PM

A fish chandelier in the collection of the Getty Museum. "The chandelier is a work of extreme novelty: it has 18 candles for illuminating a room after dark, and includes a glass bowl intended to hold water and small goldfish."
posted by moonmilk (11 comments total)

Goldfish: nature's screensaver lava lamp.
posted by acb at 5:03 PM on April 9, 2019 [4 favorites]

I'd very much like to see an artist's rendering of this in action, with the candle light glinting on the goldfish and casting water shadows into the room.
posted by velebita at 5:50 PM on April 9, 2019 [2 favorites]

[Below is a glass bowl fitted with] a plug intended for the removal of the water, which one places in the bowl with small goldfish whose continuous movement will give agreeable recreation to the eye.

*raises hand*

Are lobsters permitted?
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:23 PM on April 9, 2019 [1 favorite]

Small lobsters.
posted by moonmilk at 6:24 PM on April 9, 2019 [1 favorite]

Returned by the buyer when it was found to be full of body lice.
posted by Segundus at 12:32 AM on April 10, 2019 [1 favorite]

Essentially, it's a fish powered disco ball? Disco Stu would be pleased.

a plug intended for the removal of the water

An improvement on Disco Stu's shoes.
posted by zamboni at 3:24 AM on April 10, 2019 [1 favorite]

Metafilter: Small lobsters permitted.

All others get speeding tickets.
posted by Nanukthedog at 4:27 AM on April 10, 2019

I kept scrolling down saying, when are we getting to the picture WITH THE FISH?

I was disappointed.

I am disgruntled.
posted by dlugoczaj at 6:21 AM on April 10, 2019 [8 favorites]

Are lobsters permitted?

Small lobsters.

Sea Monkeys!
posted by Fig at 7:54 AM on April 10, 2019 [2 favorites]

Love the decor, but that cannot possibly have been a healthy environment for the poor fish.

I saw some restaurant on TV once that served drinks in these double glasses, and in the bottom half was a swimming goldfish. I was quite dismayed.
posted by JanetLand at 7:59 AM on April 10, 2019

I like Auntie Mame's better.
posted by dnash at 8:00 AM on April 10, 2019 [4 favorites]