What is a Chandelier?
A chandelier may be defined as an ornamental lighting device/fixture that is suspended from the ceiling and typically adorned with branches. The word chandelier was adopted from the French word ‘chandelle’ meaning ‘candles’ in the year 1736 AD.
A work of Art
Chandelier making requires skilled craftsmanship including metalwork, glassmaking and crystal cutting and uses expensive materials such as crystal, gold and silver with intricate designs and ornate details. Custom made and limited edition chandelier makes them an exclusive possession
The soft and ambient lighting radiated by them created a sophisticated environment transforming their status from a simple light fixture to a piece of art.
Anatomy of a Chandelier
A chandelier consists of several components which may be crafted in many designs, patterns and variations.
Some basic components are - Ceiling fixture (part attached to the ceiling), Down rod (rod connecting chandelier body to ceiling), Body (Main structure of the chandelier)...
Anatomy of a Chandelier
...Arms (Curved elements extended from the body), Light Sources (Candles, LED), Bobeches (Small containers holding the light source), Finial (Decorative piece at the bottom) and Canopy (Cover for ceiling fixture and electric component).
Origin of Chandeliers
Chandeliers have been around for more than 5000 years. Historically they originated in royal palaces and estates where they were a symbol of wealth and status.
Earliest known predecessors of chandeliers were clay vessels with multiple spouts in Mesopotamia (3000 BC).
Origin of Chandeliers
Ancient Greeks and Romans employed bronze and marble fixtures with multiple arms holding candles to light public spaces and temples (500 BC - 500AD). During the 9th century Medieval Europe, chandeliers became prominently being used in churches, castles & palaces.
From the 15th century onwards when Europe was evolving through the Renaissance, modern chandeliers with ornate work and multiple arms became widespread.
Glass and Crystal Chandeliers
Crystal chandeliers appeared in the 17th century, Europe where crystal was first used in lighting fixtures. The term ‘crystal’ refers to high quality glass used in fixtures, exported from Bohemia. French glass makers were trying to emulate rock crystals with molded glass drops.
Industrial Revolution and Electric Chandeliers
Invention of light bulbs in the 19th century revolutionized the lighting industry. Candle based chandeliers were replaced by electric ones. Electric chandeliers were more accessible and affordable, featuring more intricate designs and ornate details.
Chandeliers around the world
The Ceremonial Hall of the Dolmabahce Palace is home to the world’s largest Bohemian Chandelier. This exquisite piece of art was thought to be a gift from Queen Victoria of England. Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia displays over 1,000 chandeliers.
Baccarat Crystal Museum in Baccarat, France showcases over 1,000 stunning
chandeliers, including some of the most exquisite and intricate pieces in the world.
Chandeliers in India
Ornate chandeliers were introduced during the Mughal rule (16th - 18th century)with Islamic and Persian motifs. They adorned palaces, mosques, and mausoleums, like the Taj Mahal. Later during the colonial era European crystal and glass chandeliers were heavily imported.
Dining Room, Faluknuma Palace (1888) by Lala Deen DayalThe J. Paul Getty Museum
European Chandeliers became a prized possession among Nizams
This photograph by Lala Deen Dayal depicts the dinning room at the Falaknuma Palace, owned by the Nizams of Hyderabad, India. It is studded with crystal chandeliers throughout.
Chandeliers at Dewan DeodiSalar Jung Museum
The Salar Jung Museum collection
Collection of Chandeliers at the museum is astonishing. It features wide variety of materials and styles from Europe, India, Venice, Bohemia, England, and France.
Cut Glass Chandelier (1800/1899)Salar Jung Museum
Cut Glass Chandelier
Like a diamond in the sky! Largest glass chandelier in the Salar Jung Museum collection is displayed at the main entrance to the museum. It has twenty four branches and it belongs to England, dated 19th century.
Pink coloured cut glass Chandelier (1800/1899)Salar Jung Museum
Pink Colored Cut-Glass Chandelier
Pink colored cut glass chandelier with golden borders branched with eighteen light shades from Venice, dated 19th century. Glassmaking was a prized craft in Venice. Venetian glass makers in the 16th century experimented with colored glass, creating vibrant hues.
Colors are made by adding metal oxides to molten glass. Such exquisitely crafted elaborate chandeliers adorned the houses of the aristocrats.
Green coloured glass chandelier (1800/1899)Salar Jung Museum
Green Colored Glass Chandelier
Green colored cut glass chandelier with golden borders branched with eight light shades from Venice, dated 19th century. This chandelier is handmade, with skilled artisans blowing, cutting, and assembling the intricate glass pieces.
Blue colored glass Chandelier (1800/1899)Salar Jung Museum
Blue Colored Glass Chandelier
Blue colored glass chandelier branched with eight light shades from Venice dated 19th century. To this day, Venetian colored glass chandeliers remain a symbol of luxury and craftsmanship, evoking the beauty and romance of Venice.
Kersosene Lamp Chandelier (1900/1999)Salar Jung Museum
Kersosene Lamp Chandelier
One of kind, unique porcelain chandelier from France, dated 20th century. The chandelier is branched with three light shades. Royal blue porcelain is hand painted with roman figures in black and white ink.
Wooden Chandelier with Wedgewood plaques (1800/1899)Salar Jung Museum
Wooden Chandelier with Wedgewood Plaques
Wooden chandelier with four light globes from England, dated 19 th century. Three green Wedgewood plaques are fixed inside oval panels on the chandelier.
Wooden Chandelier with Wedgewood Plaques
Wedgwood is a renowned English pottery company that has been producing high-quality ceramics for over 250 years. While Wedgwood is not typically associated with chandeliers, they have produced some stunning lighting pieces throughout their history.
German Silver Chandelier (1800/1899)Salar Jung Museum
German Silver Chandelier
German Silver chandelier with twelve glass shades from England, dated 19th century. German silver, also known as nickel silver is an alloy made from a combination of copper, nickel, and zinc. Its strong, corrosion-resistant, and has a silver-white appearance.
White, Turquoise and Blue colored glass chandelier (1800/1899)Salar Jung Museum
White, Turquoise, and Blue Colored Glass Chandelier
Vibrantly hued chandelier with twelve branched candle lights from England, dated 19th century.
Basket Design Chandelier (1800/1899)Salar Jung Museum
Basket Design Chandelier
A basket design chandelier from England, 19th century. The 'basket' typically contains a series of lights, which can be in the form of candles, pendant lights, or other types of lighting elements or glass tassels.
Brass Chandelier (1800/1899)Salar Jung Museum
Brass Chandelier
Exotic brass chandelier with nine branched arms from England, dated 19th century. Mythical creatures with angelic wings rests on the main body of the chandelier.
Structure of an empire chandelier (1900/1999)Salar Jung Museum
Structure of an Empire Chandelier
Brass Chandelier structure with 244 branched arms. It belongs to England, dated 20th century. This structure gives an impression of an upturned which is why the British also called it a Regency balloon chandelier.
Text and Curation: Pallavi Baheti
Photography: M. Krishnamurthy and Bahadur Ali
Editing of images - K. Manohar Lal and Vinod Kumar
Research Assistance: Dinesh Singh and E. Rajesh
Special thanks: Shri Ashish Goyal, IIS, Director, Salar Jung Museum,
Dr. G. Kusum, Curator, Salar Jung Museum,
Soma Ghosh, Librarian, Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad, India
References-
1) Valtaitė-Gagač, A., 2019. Origin, types, and functioning of chandeliers with
serpent arms: from the Netherlands to Lithuania. Art History &
Criticism, 15(1), pp.5-20.
2) Campbell, G. ,The Grove Encyclopaedia of Decorative Arts, OUP USA, 2006
3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandelier
4) Shtrum, B. and Lagarde, O., THE CHANDELIERS OF THE CHÂTEAU DE
VERSAILLES: RESEARCH, CONSERVATION AND RE-
ELECTRIFICATION.
5) Hall Light & Co., Glass Chandeliers, Book 5 (Catalogue)
6) https://youtu.be/FEo0qAWW63I?si=-R26oEZTi830UD2f
