The History Behind Venetian And Other Chandeliers

Lighting is a beautiful thing

Lighting is a beautiful thing. It changes the mood of a room, adds guidance to those walking through a home or business and can be just as much a part of the ornate dcor as a piece of hanging artwork. But we often don't think about where a lot of the designs have come from in the past. Chandeliers, for one, are a kind of lighting we all admire. But it has a long history, whether crystal, wrought iron, or Venetian chandeliers.

The earliest mention of the word "chandelier" appeared in the 14th century, which at the time was derived from the word for candle. Which makes a lot of sense, because back in the day, chandeliers weren't made with electricity. They often housed beautiful lit candles on each of their tendrils. The earliest forms were used in medieval times by the wealthy. They generally were just made of two wooden planks, nailed together with 4 candles, one at each end.

In the 15th century is when chandeliers started to take on more of the shape and form we know today, and was popular in palaces and other homes of nobility. At the time, night time illumination was high in cost so it was used for luxurious surroundings. The 18th century saw the first glass chandeliers and then the cheaper production of crystal. The first crystal chandeliers from this decade are worth thousands today.

Gas illuminated crystal and wrought iron chandeliers became popular in the 19th century, with the new kind of energy being used for a light source. By the middle of the century, most candle chandeliers were converted to gas. Leading into the 1890s, those soon became the electric chandeliers we know today.

The interesting change since then is that now, starting from the 20th century on, many crystal chandeliers are used just for decorative value and some don't necessarily give light at all. Chandeliers as a whole have also become much easier to afford, making them less a choice for luxury only. But because of their history, they still retain that sort of luxurious look to others. They still look like they are worth a million bucks, so they work very well in rooms where that sort of elegance is a theme.

Now that you know the history of chandeliers, keep it in mind the next time you go browsing for one. They've come a long way and through many variations over the years to become the kind of beautiful fixtures they are now.

by: Mark Etinger

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