Chandelier from the Petroleum Club of Houston

Designed for the Petroleum Club of Houston in the early 1960s, this chandelier formed part of the club’s interiors by architect George Pierce and interior designer William Parker McFadden. The design draws upon the geography and history of the oil fields: its hand-hammered aluminum frame recalls early oil-burning lamps, while the warm, opalescent coloring of its glass shades evokes petroleum. McFadden commissioned Venini to produce the tapered, wheel-carved glass elements, pairing Italian glassmaking with a sculptural American-made frame.

USA, 1963
Hand-hammered aluminum, Venini wheel-carved glass
32" H, 64" Dia.
(81 cm H, 163 cm Dia)

Provenance:
Petroleum Club of Houston; Private Collection

About the Maker:
George Pierce and William Parker McFadden collaborated on a series of bespoke interior elements for the Petroleum Club of Houston during the early 1960s, a project emblematic of mid-century American corporate modernism. Their work for the club incorporated custom lighting and architectural features that emphasized scale, material innovation, and craftsmanship. The inclusion of glass elements by Venini—one of Murano’s most esteemed glassmakers—underscores the international scope of the project, bringing together American design with Italian artisanal expertise. Pieces from this commission remain rare, with few examples leaving their original architectural context.