1940s Hanging Lighting
Vintage 1940s Italian Lanterns
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Lanterns
Brass, Iron
Vintage 1940s Danish Art Deco Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Vintage 1940s Italian Lanterns
Iron
Vintage 1940s French French Provincial Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Metal, Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century Italian Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Vintage 1940s French Hollywood Regency Lanterns
Crystal
Mid-20th Century French Hollywood Regency Lanterns
Vintage 1940s American Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Vintage 1940s Asian Lanterns
Brass
Vintage 1940s Slovak Art Deco Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal
Vintage 1940s English Chandeliers and Pendants
Steel
20th Century Italian Lanterns
Metal
Vintage 1940s Lanterns
Metal, Brass
Vintage 1940s French Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Copper
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Lanterns
Bronze
Vintage 1940s American Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Chandeliers and Pendants
Glass
Vintage 1940s Italian Chandeliers and Pendants
Glass
Early 20th Century French Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Steel
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Vintage 1940s American Gothic Chandeliers and Pendants
Steel
Vintage 1940s Danish Bauhaus Chandeliers and Pendants
Steel, Nickel
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lanterns
Murano Glass
Vintage 1940s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Vintage 1940s French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Crystal
20th Century American Industrial Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal
20th Century French Art Deco Flush Mount
Metal, Iron, Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Bronze
Vintage 1940s French Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal, Brass
Vintage 1940s American Industrial Chandeliers and Pendants
Steel
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Flush Mount
Metal, Iron, Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf
20th Century French Hollywood Regency Flush Mount
Metal, Gold Leaf, Iron
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Flush Mount
Gold Leaf, Iron
Mid-20th Century French Hollywood Regency Flush Mount
Gold Leaf, Metal, Iron
Vintage 1940s American Industrial Chandeliers and Pendants
Aluminum, Brass
Vintage 1940s Czech Art Deco Chandeliers and Pendants
Stainless Steel
20th Century French Art Deco Flush Mount
Metal, Iron, Gold Leaf
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Chrome
Vintage 1940s Czech Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Glass, Wood
Vintage 1960s German Space Age Chandeliers and Pendants
Chrome
Vintage 1950s Swedish Space Age Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Chrome
Vintage 1940s American Chandeliers and Pendants
Steel
20th Century North American Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Bronze
Vintage 1940s Chandeliers and Pendants
Alabaster
Vintage 1950s Italian Space Age Chandeliers and Pendants
Chrome
Vintage 1940s Chandeliers and Pendants
Alabaster
Vintage 1940s Chandeliers and Pendants
Alabaster
Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Chandeliers and Pendants
Bronze
Vintage 1930s German Art Deco Chandeliers and Pendants
Chrome
Vintage 1950s French Space Age Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Chrome
Vintage 1930s German Art Deco Chandeliers and Pendants
Chrome
Vintage 1940s Chandeliers and Pendants
Alabaster
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal
Vintage 1930s German Art Deco Chandeliers and Pendants
Chrome
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Chandeliers and Pendants
Aluminum
Vintage 1940s Chandeliers and Pendants
Alabaster
Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Chandeliers and Pendants
Copper
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1940s Hanging Lighting For Sale on 1stDibs
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Finding the Right chandeliers-pendant-lights 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.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021A light fixture should hang 7 feet off the floor or 3 feet above a table. As a general rule of thumb, one should not look into a light fixture when they are standing.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023Where you hang a pendant light over a kitchen sink is largely a matter of personal preference. If you're installing a new light fixture, consider where you most need task lighting. You may find it better to hang the lamp off to one side to illuminate a food prep area. Generally, there should be 35 to 40 inches of space between the bottom of the pendant and the countertop to allow for adequate clearance. On 1stDibs, find a collection of pendant lights.
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