Chandeliers have been around for nearly a thousand years. Of course when someone thinks of a chandelier they think of an electric mult-tiered light fixture dripping with crystals. Early chandeliers looked nothing like the ones that are famous today, such as the 4.5 ton Bohemian Crystal chandelier that is hanging in the Dolmabahçe Palace in Turkey. Early chandeliers were rather crude compared to latter day developments in the forms of chandeliers. They were simple wooden crosses with candles fixed by spikes. The chandelier would then be suspended on a rope or chain from a hook.

Dolmabahçe Palace, Istanbul, Turkey

Chandeliers with the ringed circular design were developed in the 1400′s. Metal, gilded wood chandelier forms and the more embellished crystal chandeliers were developed in the 1700′s because of the innovations in glass making. Chandeliers were usually found in homes of the nobility and royal palaces. They were a symbol of status since night time lighting was expensive.
As technology improved chandelier makers adapted to the changes and upgraded the capabilities of the chandelier to use gas instead of candles. With the introduction of electrical lighting and the incandescent bulb the chandelier seemed like a traditional mode of lighting that was better left in the past.

The chandelier though because of its undeniable beauty and elegance has never gone out of style. Even older chandeliers such as the one in the Dolmabahçe Palace have been converted from gas to electric so that they can remain functional. The chandelier is very versatile. There are many styles of chandeliers today. Any family can have one as a decorative focal point in their dining room, entry way, or bedroom. Chandelier come in all shapes and sizes. One could even find an old chandelier from a thrift store for little or nothing and revamp it by spray painting it and changing the hardware. Older, antique chandeliers that ran on gas are very tricky to convert and would take a trained electrician to do the job.

photo credit: hydro-xy