Mid-Century Modern Hand Blown Cased Red Teardrop Glass Pendant Light Fixture
By Fog and Morup
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
vivid red colored glass over white with a teardrop design. The posted measurements refer to the light
Blown Glass
One-Off Teardrop Stoneware Table Light by Kasper Würtz
By Kasper Würtz
Located in London, GB
A beautiful teardrop shaped one off table lamp by Kasper Würtz. A Classic shape inspired by the
Cotton, Stoneware
Aqua Blue Danish Modern Teardrop and Glass Pendant Light
Located in Stamford, CT
This fun teardrop fixture will make a great color statement in any space.
Glass, Teak
Large Orange Holmegaard Teardrop Pendant Light, 1960s
By Holmegaard
Located in Antwerp, BE
Large orange opal glass pendant lamp with teak top. It was made in the 1960s by the famous Holmegaard glass company. The lamp is rewired and shows minimal traces of use.
Opaline Glass, Teak
Holmegaard Teardrop Trio White Glass Pendant Light
By Holmegaard
Located in Lijnden, Noord-Holland
Holmegaard teardrop trio white glass pendant light. Three white glass teardrops with teak
Milk Glass, Wood
Chandeliers — simple in form, inspired by candelabras and originally made of wood or iron — first made an appearance in early churches.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.
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