Art Nouveau Chandelier Oil Lamp Ceiling Light Antique German Counterweight 1890s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A rare and impressive late 19th-century antique oil lamp chandelier, masterfully handcrafted in brass and adorned with elegant Art Nouveau floral and foliate motifs. This exceptional...
Metal
Art Nouveau Majolica and Loetz Art Glass Shade Oil Lamp Adjustable Pendant Light
Located in Lisse, NL
Rare, large and beautiful antique Art Nouveau oil lamp with blackened iron frame in floral decor. This large and impressive oil lamp dates from the earliest years of the 1900s. It i...
Metal, Brass
Scandinavian Brass Diablo Pendant Light 1950s Patina Ø 20 cm
Located in Hannover, DE
Elegant Scandinavian Diablo pendant light dating from the 1950s–1960s, crafted in solid brass and featuring a beautifully aged natural patina that gives the piece exceptional warmth ...
Brass
Midcentury ceiling lamp with counterweight, 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
White and blue lacquered Midcentury Modern pendant lamp with counterweight, designed and produced in Brazil in the 1950s.
Aluminum, Brass, Iron
$3,395 / item
Contrappeso Adjustable 3-Arm Brass Ivory Chandelier
By Silvio Piattelli
Located in Milan, IT
A magnificent interpretation of mid-century style, this three-arm chandelier combines the warm glow of natural solid brass with the ivory-hued aluminum of its three double shades. Th...
Aluminum, Brass
Nordiska Kompaniet Adjustable Pendant Lamp, Aluminum & Porcelain, 1950
By Paavo Tynell, Nordiska Kompaniet
Located in Dronten, NL
A refined example of Scandinavian modern lighting, this counterbalance pendant lamp was produced in Sweden in the 1950s by Nordiska Kompaniet (NK), one of the most influential design...
Aluminum, Brass
Rare Handcrafted Mid-Century Modern Rattan & Brass Pendant Light / Ceiling Lamp
Located in Lisse, NL
This pendant comes with a beautifully shaped, rattan shade with matching canopy and counterweight for adjusting the height.
Brass
Rare and Handcrafted Mid-Century Modern Brass and Bronze Pendant, Ceiling Light
Located in Lisse, NL
The counterweight for height adjustment is fitted inside a very stylish brass 'holder' that perfectly completes this midcentury light fixture, because it too has a beautiful shape an...
Brass, Bronze, Wire
Italian Adjustable Three-Arm Triennale Style Chandelier, Brass Patinated
By Stilnovo, Arteluce
Located in Tavarnelle val di Pesa, Florence
The chandelier draws inspiration from the iconic 1950s light fixtures made by the mid-century modern Italian studios. Every detail of this lamp is meticulously crafted. The arms and...
Metal, Aluminum, Brass
Large Counterweight Fixture by Stilnovo, Italy 1960's
By Stilnovo
Located in New York, NY
Large Fixture by Stilnovo, the main arm adjusts from 80’’ to 110” long, the shade adjusts and has one light.
Aluminum, Brass, Cut Steel
Adjustable Nickel Pendant Lamp Keos by Florian Schulz, Germany, 1970s
By Florian Schulz
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
Adjustable counterbalance suspension Keos by Florian Schulz / Licht und Objekt made in Germany in the 1970s. Made for the eternity! The nickel plated brass lamp is well-constructed a...
Brass, Nickel
Brass Pendant by Paavo Tynell
By Paavo Tynell
Located in Long Island City, NY
Large lighting pendant with counterweight designed by Paavo Tynell.
Brass
Italian White Triennale 3-Light Brass Chandelier
Located in Houston, TX
Italian ivory white Triennale three light chandelier fashioned of brass with three adjustable arms, conical shaped diffusers and reinforced by counterweights.
Brass
Paavo Tynell for Taito/Idman, Finland 1950s, Pendant Light, model A1957
By Paavo Tynell, Taito-idman
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
Paavo Tynell Pendant Light, model A 1957 designed 1950s and manufactured by Taito/Idman, Finland in brass, with pierced shade and counterweight mechanism height adjustable with long ...
Brass
Arredoluce rare 10-light Chandelier, brass and enamelled steel, circa 1952
By Angelo Lelii, Arredoluce
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
Designed by Angelo Lelii and manufactured by Arredoluce, Italy, this stunning 10-light chandelier comprises adjustable vari-coloured lamp shades on brass arms with ball counterweight...
Brass, Steel, Enamel
Onos 55 Counterbalance Pendant Lamp in Brass by Florian Schulz
By Florian Schulz
Located in KUTNO, PL
The lamp is made of solid brass – a material that not only ages beautifully but also reflects light in a soft, noble way.
Brass
Golden Brass Pendant Lamp by Fritz Schlägel for Lyfa, 1970s
By Lyfa
Located in Hagenbach, DE
This pendant lamp with a brass counterweight by Fritz Schlägel for Lyfa Denmark is a stunning example of mid-century modern design.
Aluminum, Brass
Paavo Tynell Pendant Light, Idman Oy Model No. A 1942, circa 1950s
By Paavo Tynell, Idman Oy
Located in New York, NY
This is an adjustable ceiling light made of a brass canopy and counterweight with a white enameled metal bell shaped reflector (9.75" diameter x 11.75" height) and convenient brass r...
Metal, Brass
Pair of Paavo Tynell Adjustable Ceiling Lights Model A1965 in Pink, Taito 1950s
By Paavo Tynell, Taito
Located in Helsinki, FI
A pair of adjustable ceiling lamps, Model A1965, designed by Paavo Tynell and manufactured by Taito Oy in Finland during the 1950s. The lamps feature a counterweight mechanism, allow...
Metal, Brass
Double 'Posa' Variant pendant by Florian Schulz
By Florian Schulz
Located in Brussels, BE
Executed in polished brass. Dimensioins: cm Shade : D31,5 H25 Counterweight: D8 The pendants are complemented by their original counterweight suspension system, with spherical bras...
Brass
Rare Pulley Suspension Light by Gaetano Sciolari for Stilnovo
By Gaetano Sciolari, Stilnovo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This rare pulley suspension light by Gaetano Sciolari for Stilnovo, designed and manufactured in Italy, circa 1950s, reflects the technical ingenuity and sculptural clarity of early ...
Brass, Aluminum
Double 'Posa' Pendant by Florian Schulz 1960's Germany
By Florian Schulz
Located in Brussels, BE
Dimensioins: cm Shade : D31 H19 Counterweight: D8 The pendants are complemented by their original counterweight suspension system, with spherical brass weights allowing the height ...
Brass
Scandinavian Modern Ceiling Lamp in Brass by Thomas Valentiner, 1960s
By Th. Valentiner
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
This rare height-adjustable ceiling lamp, designed by Thomas Valentiner and produced by Poul Dinesen in Denmark, is a sophisticated example of Danish mid-century modern lighting desi...
Brass
Counterbalance Pendant Lamp 1960's in Parchment and Beige Leather
Located in London, GB
Counterbalance pendant with centre weight. High quality hand made drum shade in real moves smoothly up and down on the counterweight, guided by a handle. The drum shade is made of pa...
Brass
Counterbalance Pendant Lamp 1960's in Parchment and Black Leather
Located in London, GB
Counterbalance pendant with centre weight. High quality hand made drum shade in real parchment and black leather moves smoothly up and down on the counterweight, guided by a handle. ...
Brass
Rare Mod. 12963 Ceiling Light by Angelo Lelii for Arredoluce Monza
By Angelo Lelii, Arredoluce
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare Mod. 12963 Ceiling Light by Angelo Lelii for Arredoluce Monza. Designed and manufactured in Italy, in 1963. A one-of-a-kind suspension light by Lelii. This fixture comprises of ...
Aluminum, Brass, Steel
Double 'Onos 55' by Florian Schulz Germany c.1970
By Florian Schulz
Located in Brussels, BE
Dimensioins: cm Shade : D55 H28 Counterweight: D12 The pendants are complemented by their original counterweight suspension system, with spherical brass weights allowing the height...
Brass
Large Architectural Cantilever Stilnovo Style Balanced Chandelier
By Stilnovo
Located in Bochum, NRW
This large architectural chandelier, inspired by the Stilnovo style, features two substantial brass arms that can swing in various directions. One arm is equipped with a large brass ...
Aluminum, Brass
Franco Buzzi for O-Luce Wall Light in Brass and Aluminum
By O-Luce, Franco Buzzi
Located in Waalwijk, NL
The spherical-shaped counterweight in brass enables the user to adjust the height of the light source and keep the pendant in place.
Aluminum, Brass, Steel
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 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, 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. (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.)
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 natural world-inspired designs of the Art Nouveau era 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 — shop a collection today that includes antique Art Deco chandeliers, Stilnovo chandeliers, Baccarat chandeliers and more.
The alluring pendant light exemplifies the designer’s winsome mid-career work.
Patrizio Chiarparini of Brooklyn’s Duplex gallery sheds light on the lasting legacy of Italy’s postwar furniture boom.
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Having created extravagant homes for reality TV’s biggest stars, the designer is stepping into the spotlight with his first book.
The Louisiana-born and -bred architect talks to 1stdibs about the art of making timeless places that matter.
The Palm Springs interior decorator developed a mid-century style that defined the vacation homes of celebrities and other notables, including Bob Hope and Lucille Ball.
The houses from this New York studio cloak modernist tendencies within what are often more traditional trappings.
In the market for a fantastic fixture from the 1940s, ’50s or ’60s? Here are some names to know.