Antique Chandeliers
Antique chandeliers are a classic light fixture that helped develop gas power and electricity. They have been around for centuries and offer elegance, class and a lighting utility. Nowadays, antique chandeliers are used more for interior decor rather than actual lighting purposes. One can find antique chandeliers in hundreds of different colors, materials, styles and sizes. Does this Spark an idea?
History
The earliest chandeliers are from Medieval periods. Chandeliers, especially antique chandeliers, have come a long way since these blunt and almost scary looking chandeliers. In Medieval times, most chandeliers were constructed of beams of wood with metal spikes driven through them to stick candles on. These held dozens of candles and would be hoisted to the ceiling with a chain. Once the candles burned down, they would be hoisted down and replaced. From here chandeliers evolved into more delicate designs, round and tiered. These were most apparent in palaces, places of royalty and the extremely wealthy. They provided a sign of being in the upper class. Throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, chandeliers evolved into different materials such as crystal, wood and stone. The designs also changed into different shapes and styles to regard characteristics from nature, such as vines and leaves. In the twentieth century, the antique chandelier is used mostly for decorative purposes.
Function
The main function of chandeliers is to light a room in a home with an array of soft lighting. Although they were used as regular lighting centuries ago, currently they are more decorative since they are antiques. The ornate and old-fashioned classic designs enhance any home with a vintage and classy twist.
Features
The basic features of chandeliers include the mounting fixture, a base and decorative lighting branches. A ceiling mounted fixture, such as a chain, is connected to a rounded or squared off base. Branching out of this base are at least two decorative and ornate branches, usually curled upward or downward. These branches hold light bulbs on their ends in order to light a room. Very detailed and expensive chandeliers can even have dozens of lights and arms, and have complex fixtures of different materials, such as glass or brass.
Types
Different types of chandeliers speak different types of lifestyles and personalities. Candle chandeliers were of course the first type of chandelier to emerge in society. They are still used today, and can represent a sense of nostalgia, romanticism and a relaxing feeling. Metal chandeliers come in different metals such as brass, wrought iron, silver and steel (uncommon). Crystal and glass chandeliers are very popular and definitely represent a romanticism and sense of class. Stone, beads, shell and capiz chandeliers have the same sort of style, but aren't quite as fancy since they look more edgy. Antler chandeliers from elk or deer represent an outdoorsy sense of style and are perfect for cabins and lodges. Murano chandeliers are very edgy and colorful, but also very delicate since they are blown glass. Besides materials, chandeliers can be styled in a box shape like the style from Medieval times, can be a canopy style, circle, oval, and wagon wheel, to name the more popular ones. Antique chandeliers are made out of all of these materials, as all chandeliers can be considered antique before 1975.
Size
The largest chandelier in the world recorded is in Istanbul at a palace. It is crystal and weights 4.5 tons with more than 750 lamps. Chandeliers can run from any size of 10 feet across, to less than 1 foot across. What size works for you depends upon where you are installing it, your sense of style, and if you want lighting from the chandelier or not. Antique chandeliers usually measure at least 3 feet across.
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