Old Chandeliers
Early 20th Century French Neoclassical Chandeliers and Pendants
Bronze
Late 20th Century German Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal
Antique Early 1900s French Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal, Chrome
Vintage 1950s Italian Chandeliers and Pendants
Steel
Antique Late 17th Century European Neoclassical Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Iron, Wire
Vintage 1940s European Art Nouveau Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Brass, Wire
Antique Early 18th Century European Art Nouveau Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Wire, Brass
Antique Mid-18th Century European Baroque Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Brass, Wire
Vintage 1980s French Art Deco Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Art Nouveau Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Wire, Brass
Vintage 1930s Mexican Neoclassical Chandeliers and Pendants
Stainless Steel, Iron
Vintage 1970s European Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Brass, Wire
Vintage 1920s French Gothic Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Brass
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Art Nouveau Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Brass, Wire
Antique Mid-18th Century European Baroque Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Brass, Wire
Vintage 1940s European Art Deco Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Wire
Antique Early 19th Century European Art Deco Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Brass, Wire
Antique Early 19th Century European Art Deco Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Brass, Wire
Antique 1880s German Aesthetic Movement Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Brass
Vintage 1970s European Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Brass, Wire
Antique Mid-18th Century European Baroque Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Brass, Wire
Antique 1640s European Bohemian Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Wire, Brass
Antique Late 19th Century European Baroque Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Brass, Wire
Vintage 1950s Italian Aesthetic Movement Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Brass, Wire
Vintage 1910s Italian Anglo-Indian Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Brass
Antique Early 1900s Italian Baroque Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Nouveau Chandeliers and Pendants
Bronze
Antique 19th Century German Baroque Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Early 20th Century European Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Dutch Colonial Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Mid-20th Century German Chandeliers and Pendants
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Iron
Early 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Chandeliers and Pendants
Bronze
20th Century French Belle Époque Chandeliers and Pendants
Bronze
Vintage 1970s American Space Age Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass, Chrome
20th Century French Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Bronze
Mid-20th Century French Chandeliers and Pendants
Iron
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Chandeliers and Pendants
Bronze
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Antique Mid-18th Century Italian Baroque Chandeliers and Pendants
Bronze
Vintage 1960s Italian Hollywood Regency Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal
Antique 18th Century Chandeliers and Pendants
Bronze
1990s Spanish Art Nouveau Chandeliers and Pendants
Alabaster
2010s Italian Chandeliers and Pendants
Textile, Rattan
2010s Italian Chandeliers and Pendants
Textile, Rattan
Antique 1880s French Louis XIV Chandeliers and Pendants
Bronze
Antique Mid-19th Century German Chandeliers and Pendants
Wood
Vintage 1970s Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Antique 19th Century Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal
Antique 19th Century French Chandeliers and Pendants
Bronze
Antique 1870s French Louis XIV Chandeliers and Pendants
Bronze
Antique 1890s Unknown Art Nouveau Chandeliers and Pendants
Pewter
2010s Italian Art Deco Chandeliers and Pendants
Murano Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Georgian Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal, Iron
Early 20th Century French Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Early 20th Century French Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Brass
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Bronze
Early 20th Century French Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal
Vintage 1970s American Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
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Old Chandeliers For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Old Chandeliers?
Finding the Right Chandeliers and Pendants for You
Chandeliers — simple in form, inspired by candelabras and originally made of wood or iron — first made an appearance in early churches. For those wealthy enough to afford them for their homes in the medieval period, a chandelier's suspended lights likely exuded imminent danger, as lit candles served as the light source for fixtures of the era. Things have thankfully changed since then, and antique and vintage chandeliers and pendant lights are popular in many interiors today.
While gas lighting during the late 18th century represented an upgrade for chandeliers — and gas lamps would long inspire Danish architect and pioneering modernist lighting designer Poul Henningsen — it would eventually be replaced with the familiar electric lighting of today.
The key difference between a pendant light and a chandelier is that a pendant incorporates only a single bulb into its design. Don’t mistake this for simplicity, however. An Art Deco–styled homage to Sputnik from Murano glass artisans Giovanni Dalla Fina (note: there is more than one lighting fixture that shares its name with the iconic mid-century-era satellite — see Gino Sarfatti’s design too), with handcrafted decorative elements supported by a chrome frame, is just one stunning example of the elaborate engineering that can be incorporated into every component of a chandelier.
Chandeliers have evolved over time, but their classic elegance has remained unchanged. Not only will the right chandelier prove impressive in a given room, but it can also offer a certain sense of practicality. These fixtures can easily illuminate an entire space, while their elevated position prevents them from creating glare or straining one’s eyes. Certain materials, like glass, can complement naturally lit settings without stealing the show. Brass, on the other hand, can introduce an alluring, warm glow. While LEDs have earned a bad reputation for their perceived harsh bluish lights and a loss of brightness over their life span, the right design choices can help harness their lighting potential and create the perfect mood. A careful approach to lighting can transform your room into a peaceful and cozy nook, ideal for napping, reading or working.
For midsize spaces, a wall light or sconce can pull the room together and get the lighting job done. Perforated steel rings underneath five bands of handspun aluminum support a rich diffusion of light within Alvar Aalto's Beehive pendant light, but if you’re looking to brighten a more modest room, perhaps a minimalist solution is what you’re after. The mid-century modern furniture designer Charlotte Perriand devised her CP-1 wall lamps in the 1960s, in which a repositioning of sheet-metal plates can redirect light as needed.
The versatility and variability of these lighting staples mean that, when it comes to finding something like the perfect chandelier, you’ll never be left hanging. From the whimsical — like the work of Beau & Bien’s Sylvie Maréchal, frequently inspired by her dreams — to the classic beauty of Paul Ferrante's fixtures, there is a style for every room. With designs for pendant lights and chandeliers across eras, colors and materials, you’ll never run out of options to explore on 1stDibs.
- How did old chandeliers work?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Old chandeliers first worked because of taper candles inserted into their frames and lit nightly to provide illumination for a room. In the 18th century, chandeliers produced flickering flames fueled by natural gas, butane, propane or a similar substance. On 1stDibs, find a variety of antique and vintage chandeliers.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022To tell how old your chandelier is, look for a maker’s mark often included somewhere on the chandelier. From there, you can research the specific company that manufactured it. Also consider the power source — candle- and gas-lit chandeliers were common until the early 1900s when electric chandeliers became popular. Even if your chandelier was upgraded to be fully electric, check for signs of the previous system. Shop a collection of vintage and contemporary chandeliers from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022You can update an old brass chandelier in many ways. Refinish it with spray paint to give it a more modern hue or slip new sleeves over the candles. You can also add embellishments like crystals to the frame. On 1stDibs, find a variety of antique and vintage chandeliers.
Read More
You Don’t Need a Fictional Fairy to Get This Real Pinocchio Lamp
Warm chalet style meets cool Bauhaus functionality in Pietro Cascella’s cleverly carved creation.
Why Is Italy Such a Hotbed of Cool Design?
Patrizio Chiarparini of Brooklyn’s Duplex gallery sheds light on the lasting legacy of Italy’s postwar furniture boom.
With a High-Tech Flagship and Cool Collabs, Lladró Is Breaking the Mold for Porcelain Production
Thanks to its new leadership, the Spanish maker of figurines, busts and lighting is on a mission to update the art of porcelain for the 21st century.
Christopher Tennant’s Lamps and Dioramas Evoke Sunny Days and Seaside Locales
The former magazine editor blends elements of the Far East and America’s eastern shores, bringing wit and delight to his handmade, upcycled designs.
Paavo Tynell’s Snowflake Chandelier Warms Up Any Room
This circa 1950 piece by the legendary Finnish lighting designer spent the past several decades in a family's home in Michigan.
NASA Parachutes Inspired Lighting Designer Bec Brittain’s New Collection
In "Paraciphers," now on view at Emma Scully Gallery in New York, Brittain introduces works that were more than a decade in the making.
This Handsome Leather Pendant Light Is Crafted Using Saddle-Making Techniques
The Doma by L’Aviva Home nods to Colombia’s equestrian heritage.
Celebrate Spring Year-Round with This Lush Murano-Glass Chandelier
Hand-blown glass makes the Italian fixture glow like dew-covered leaves in the sun.