Early 19th century French cut-glass and ormolu chandelier in the Green Room of the White House.Illustration of a medieval chandelier from King René's Tournament Book, 1460This 30ft high, blown glass, chandelier by Dale Chihuly is installed in the rotunda of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
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Chandeliers

A chandelier is a branched decorative ceiling-mounted light fixture with two or more arms bearing lights. Chandeliers are often ornate, containing dozens of lamps and complex arrays of glass or crystal prisms to illuminate a room with refracted light. more...

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History

The earliest candle chandeliers were used in medieval places of assembly. They generally took the form of a wooden cross with a number of spikes on which candles could be secured, the whole assembly being hoisted to a suitable height on a rope or chain suspended from a hook.

From the 15th century, more complex forms of chandeliers based on ring or crown designs began to become popular decorative features, found in palaces and homes of the nobility, clergy and merchant class. The high cost of night time illumination made the chandelier a symbol of luxury and status. By the early 18th century, ornate cast ormolu forms with long, curved arms and many candles could be found in the homes of much of the growing merchant class. Neoclassical motifs became an increasingly common element, mostly in cast metals but also in carved and gilded wood. Developments in glassmaking in the 18th century allowed the cheaper production of lead crystal. The light-scattering properties of this highly refractive glass quickly became a popular addition to the form, leading to the crystal chandelier.

In the nineteenth century, as gas light became a source of illumination, branched ceiling fixtures were produced, and the term gasolier, a contraction of gas and chandelier, was frequently used. Gas illuminated chandeliers appeared in the mid-19th century, and many candle chandeliers were sometimes converted to gas. By the 1890s, and the appearance of electricity for illumination, chandeliers were produced that used both gas and electricity. As distribution of electricity became wider, and the supply dependable, fixtures wired only for electricity became standard.

The world's largest chandelier is located in Dolmabahce Palace, Turkey. It was a gift from Britain to His Imperial Majesty, The Emperor of the Ottomans.

More complex and elaborate forms of chandelier continued to developed throughout the 18th and 19th centuries until the widespread introduction of first gas then electrical lighting devalued this traditional form of lighting's appeal.

Towards the end of the 20th century, the chandelier is used more as a decorative focal point for a room and may not give any illumination.

One famous chandelier is the chandelier in the Opera Garnier which in the 1910 Gaston Leroux novel The Phantom of the Opera is crashed by the Phantom.

Gallery

Read more at Wikipedia.org


Quoizel Mq5103Hl 3-lt Breakfast fixture $50.00 Wagon Wheel Chandelier $159.00
Old Glass 5 Arm Prism Chandlier/Refurbish Or For Parts $19.99 2" Amber Crystal Glass Almond Lamp Chandelier Prism 8Pc $9.99
An Wrought Iron Castle/ Knight Style 8 Light Chandelier $980.00 Teresa Crystal Chandelier $74.95
New Unique Copper Amazing Electric Light Lamp Beads $89.99 Old Havana Collection 5 Lt. W/Shades Scroll Chandelier $79.00
Italy Scroll 5L Antq Bronze W/Shades Chandelier Freship $89.99 Petite Tole Style Crystal White Or Natural Chandelier $88.99
Shabby Crystal W/Amber Teardrops 1 Lt. Pendant Freeship $49.00 Swarovski Petite Crystal 24% Lead Gold 3 Lt. Chandelier $109.33
Mini Petite Crystal Clusters Silver Plated Chandelier $49.00 Dynasty 24% Full Lead Crystal Gold Finish 3 Lt. Pendant $119.00
Old Havana Crystal Collection W/Shades 6 Lt Chandelier $159.00 Old Havana Crystal 2Tier 9L Shades Gold/Tone Chandelier $139.00
Swarovski Petite Crystal Silver Or Gold Empire Pendant $139.00 Austrian Style Crystal 6Lt Silver Glass Bead Chandelier $109.00
Leaf Crystal Prism Antq Bronze Iron Chandelier Freship $69.00 Bamboo Island Collection 2Tier Bronze Finish Chandelier $119.00
Murano Glass Chandelier Glass And Fashion Guaranteed $14,400.00 Petite Red Flower Italy Style 3Lt Black/Gold Chandelier $49.00
Brushed Nickel Hi Tech 9L W/Matching Shades Chandelier $119.99 Petite Austria Crystal Bead Black 1 Lt Pendant Freeship $49.00
Crystal Rose Prism 9Lite Floral Gold Finish Chandelier $89.00 New Architectural Polyurethane Ceiling Medallion 39"Dia $98.00
New Architectural Diy Polyurethane Ceiling Medallion $15.00 Teardrop Amber Crystal 6 Lt Glass Bead/Shade Chandelier $89.00
Austrian Style Crystal 1L Antique Gold Pendant Freship $49.00 Swarovski Crystal Elegant 24% Lead Gold 4Lt Semi-Flush $49.00
Petite Elegant Antq Beige 4Light Amber Beads Chandelier $69.00 Italy Style Crystal Leaf Dark Bronz Chandelier Freship $79.50
Red Flower Italy Style 8L Black/Gold Chandelier Freship $89.00 Red Flower Italian Tole Style 4 Lt Chandelier Freeship $126.00
Architectural Polyurethane Ceiling Medallion 23-1/2" $48.00 Hawaiin Island Pineapple Gold 9 Lt Chandelier Freeship $119.00
Architectural Polyurethane Ceiling Medallion 23-13/16 $38.00 Wrought Iron Scroll Black, Rust Or Greystone Chandelier $89.99
Italy Style Dark Bronze W/Gold Leaf Chandelier Freeship $89.00 Austrian Petite Crystal 4 Lt Silver-Pewter Pendant $49.99
Crystal Floral 3 Light Antique Gold Iron Chandelier $129.00 Freeship 4 Lt Crystal Cream, Green Or Black Chandelier $84.99
Austria Style Crystal Amber Teardrops Pendant Freeship $49.00 Island Round Scroll 7 Light Antq. Brass Pot Rack Racks $129.00
Large Austrian Style Amber Crystal Chandelier Freeship $169.00 Amber Crystal Floral Antq Gold Or Black 3L Chandelier $99.00
38" Architectural Polyurethane Color Ceiling Medallion $120.00 Jet Black Crystal Chandelier Lighting Free Shipping! $497.00
White Wrought Iron Crystal Chandelier *Free Shipping!* $199.00 Chandelier Lighting Crystal Chandeliers Nr $225.00
6 Light Crystal Wrought Iron Chandelier Free Shipping $197.00 16 Lt Beautiful Art Deco Jet Black Crystal Chandelier $549.99
16 Light Beautiful Crystal Wrought Iron Chandelier $549.99 13 Light Maria Theresa Jet Black Crystal Chandelier $449.99
16 Light Maria Theresa Swarovski Crystal Chandelier $749.99 9 Light Silver French Empire Crystal Chandelier $299.99
12 Light Unbelievable Jet Black Crystal Chandelier $519.99 7 Lt Incredible Silver Modern Crystal Ball Chandelier $399.99
Magnificent Wrought Iron Swarovski Crystal Chandelier $599.99 7 Light Incredible Clear Crystal Chandelier $315.00
6 Light Beautiful Maria Theresa Crystal Chandelier $249.99 8 Light Fantastic Wrought Iron Crystals Chandelier $299.99
6 Light Wrought Iron Crystal Chandelier Free Shipping $249.99 16 Light Maria Theresa Two-Tier Crystal Chandelier $599.99
12 Light Fantastic Crystal Wrought Iron Chandelier $429.99 5 Light Fantastic Silver Modern Crystal Ball Chandelier $329.99
6 Lt Unbelievable Silver Modern Crystal Ball Chandelier $329.99 12 Light Spectacular Crystal Wrought Iron Chandelier $449.99
7 Light Fantastic Jet Black Crystal Chandelier $295.00 New Chandelier w/ Swarovski Crystal Balls Free Shipping $997.00
Wrought Iron Bronze Crystal Lighting **Free Shipping!** $1.00 Murano Venetian Style All Crystal Chandelier $398.00
Wrought Iron Bronze Crystal Chandelier *Free Shipping!* $397.00 Wrought Iron Chandelier Chandeliers No Reserve! $87.00
Wrought Iron Chandelier Chandeliers Nr $99.00 Wrought Iron Crystal Chandelier Chandeliers *Free S/H!* $199.00
Chandelier Crystal Lighting 37X38 *Free Shipping!* $1.00 Pretty Paris Led Chandelier Light $8.51
Crystal Chandelier Chandeliers Ht.24x Wd.25 $99.00 Lighting All Crystal Chandelier W/Shades! **Free S/H!** $197.00
Hanging Chandelier Lighting Lamps w/ Swarovski Crystals $842.00 Authentic All Crystal Chandelier Chandeliers Free S/H! $149.00
Mid Century 50's Retro Chandelier Shade Pendant Modern $129.99 Mid Century 50's Retro Chandelier Atomic Pendant Modern $175.00
Stained Glass Art Deco Chandelier $475.00 4 Light * Solid 100% Jet Black Crystal Chandelier $135.00
7 Light Chocolate Brown * Crystal Chandelier * Prisms $298.00 Portfolio Crystal Pendant/ Antique Gold Finish, New! $23.00
New French Scroll Petite Black Chandelier Drop Crystals $49.90 Authentic All Crystal Chandelier Chandeliers $88.00
B276 Wrought Iron Chandelier Hanging Lamp Fixture $24.99 B431 Island Chandelier Ceiling Fixture Hanging Lamp $9.99
B709-6 Crystal Wrought Iron Chandelier Lamp Celeste $99.99 New Large Wrought Iron Candle Chandelier - 86154g $49.99
New Wrought Iron Candle Chandelier - 84051 $37.99 Swarovski Crystal Chandelier Gold Ceiling Light New! $69.99
Swarovski Crystal Chandelier Chrome Pendant Light New! $49.99 Vintage Antique Brass Crystal Chandelier 6 Light Arm $29.99
"Antique Crystal" Oil Bronze Chandelier Lamp Light New! $69.99 Progress Lighting Savannah Collection $69.00
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Prices current as of last update, 08/28/08 9:07am.


See also...
More than 22'' Wide, Chandeliers, Lamps, Lighting, Ceiling Fans
Up to 22'' Wide, Chandeliers, Lamps, Lighting, Ceiling Fans

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