The History Of The Chandelier

Chandeliers have always intrigued me and I have a great interest in their history ever since watching Lawrence Welk on TV as a child.  I didn't just give away my age did I?

First the Word Chandelier Where Did It Come From?

Around 1736 the word chandelier became known because of the old french word chandelier, which originated from the Latin word candelabrum, according to Wikipedia.  Clear as mud right?

Lets Discuss The History Behind the Chandelier

In my research I have found the history of the chandelier dates way back to the medieval times.  If you were wealthy in the medieval times, chances are you had a chandelier somewhere in your home or castle.  Some of these chandeliers had the option of being able to be moved easily from room to room.  Then sometime in the 15th century, the palaces of the nobility or clergy, chandeliers were being made with rings and they looked similar to crowns.  This was a luxury and thus considered a status symbol.  Then during the 18th century more ornate forms of chandeliers were seen.  Bigger, better, longer and ornate scroll work was seen with multiple candles on them.  Again only for the upper class.  These were made from iron work and sometimes carved wood.  Some of the chandeliers in Rome and Greece were very ornate with mythological creatures carved or bent into them.  Imagine how long it took to make just one large chandelier?!  It's no wonder only the wealthy had these in their castles or palaces.

In some countries during the 18th century they started to develop glass and lead crystal (or as I call it Bling or Glam).  Making chandeliers with a glass product added, really amped up the light refraction with beveling and prisms.  At this time more and more, bigger and better chandeliers were seen in some of the most influential homes.  Carving with leaves, flowers and fruits was also becoming popular around this time.  It took an incredible amount of skill to make ornate chandeliers at this point, since they were all arduously made by hand by only the most skilled craftsmen. The application of chandeliers at this point really caught on, moving them into interior lighting of theaters and rooms of the most important palaces.  Oh to have seen these spectacular chandeliers!

Then in the 19th century - let there be gas lighting!  Fixtures called Gasoliers (Gas and chandelier) were then produced and many people then converted their chandeliers from flame to gas lighting.  Must have been so much easier and cleaner.  In the 1890 with the invention of electric light, some chandeliers were made to use gas and electricity.  

The worlds largest chandelier is located in the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul.  It's reported to have 750 lamps and weighs 4.5 tons!  That is now on my bucket list to see.  This Dolmabahce Palace also has the largest collection of crystal chandeliers in the world.

With all the advancements of gas and electricity in the 18th and 19th century the chandelier decreased appeal as a status symbol.  By the end of the 20th century more and more chandeliers were being used as a focal point in homes.  And chandeliers are still being used in this way today.  Over dining tables, sometimes multiple chandeliers or pendants over huge islands.  Many are being used over tubs to bring some bling or glam to a bathroom.  

Samantha Green has always been interested in home decor.  Especially lighting.  You can see her line of products at woodenchandeliersplus.com.