$1,147
H 17.72 in Dm 8.67 in
Hourglass shaped modernist pendant lamp attributed to ASEA, Sweden, 1950s
By ASEA
Located in Forserum, SE
Swedish mid century pendant lamp attributed to the Swedish electric company ASEA, 1950s. Sculptural
Aluminum, Brass
$1,580
H 70 in Dm 23 in
Mid-Century Modern 3-Cone "Hourglass" Hanging Pendant Attributed to Lightolier
By Lightolier
Located in Buffalo, NY
Classic Mid-Century Modern 3-Cone "hourglass" hanging pendant chandelier attributed to LIGHTOLIER
Brass
Impressive Doria Cascading Hourglass Chandelier, Space Age, Germany, 1960s
By Doria Leuchten Germany
Located in Vienna, AT
A stunning and large Cascade chandelier / pendant lamp from the 1960s, crafted by Doria, Germany
Metal, Aluminum, Chrome
$4,493 / item
H 31.5 in Dm 23.63 in
Large 950s Hourglass Chandeliers with Grey Metal Diabolo Shades on Brass Frame
By Stilnovo
Located in London, GB
four perforated hourglass shades in star shape with eight-light outputs for up and down lighting. The
Metal, Brass
$560Sale Price|72% Off
H 12.36 in Dm 7.09 in
Vistosi Murano Modernist Green, Grey Opaline Glass Pendant, 1960s
By Vistosi
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Stunning Italian Mid-Century Modern Murano opaline glass pendant in an extraordinary soft hourglass
Glass, Opaline Glass, Murano Glass
$425Sale Price|60% Off
H 11.82 in Dm 5.32 in
Italian Stilnovo Black and White Glass Pendant with Brass Belly, 1960s
By Stilnovo
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Slim and elegant Italian hourglass shaped midcentury modern glass pendant with intricate lined
Brass
Hourglass Pendant by Bruno Chiarini, Italy, circa 1950
Located in Culver City, CA
Hourglass pendant by Bruno Chiarini, Italy, circa 1950. Elegant hourglass form consisting of two
Brass
Four Bronze Hourglass Pendants
Located in London, GB
These lamps are etched in circular rings around the form of the lamps and patinated in a deep bronze. The lamps hang on a solid brass chain bronze in color. Dimensions of the shad...
Bronze Hourglass Pendant on Chains
Located in London, GB
Only one available! Curved cylinder pendant lamps etched in circular rings around the form of the
Brass, Bronze
Pair of Bronze Hourglass Pendants
Located in London, GB
Curved cylinder pendant lamps etched in circular rings around the form of the lamps and patinated
Brass, Bronze
Hourglass Bubble Pendant
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Austrian hour glass shaped pendant with bubbles detail and slight etching detail to glass.
Glass
Frosted Hourglass in Cleqr Globe Pendant
Located in Bridgehampton, NY
Frosted hourglass and clear globe pendant on chrome chain takes standard bulb up to 120 watts
Glass
Mid-Century Modern Hourglass Form Chandelier
Located in Astoria, NY
Mid-Century Modern Hourglass Form Chandelier, four pendants, each with top and bottom light fixture
Metal
Hourglass Shaped Italian 1950's Chandelier
Located in London, GB
Three redirectionable double lit black enameled shades with brass lamp connectors. Each double lamp holder, Width 12 cm Length 60 cm
Large Italian 1950s Chandelier with Hourglass Shades
Located in London, GB
Chandelier with six hourglass shades and twelve adjustable lights in alternate colors green and
Rectilinear Suspended "Hourglass" Element Ceiling Fixture by Salviati
By Salviati
Located in New York, NY
Rectilinear ceiling fixture composed of clustered clear, fluted "hourglass" elements with nickel
Nickel
Litecraft Twelve Light Chandelier with Pierced Hourglass Shades
By Litecraft
Located in Chicago, IL
hourglass shades with upper and lower sockets, pierced triangular design and grey enameled interiors. Pair
Aluminum, Brass
6 units of 1950s Church Diabolo / Hourglass Chandelier , Italy
By Stilnovo
Located in St- Leonard, Quebec
enameled steel in a brass tone. Well made, extremely solid, sturdy construction. Each hourglass shade
Aluminum, Steel
Litecraft Chandelier with Six Pierced Hourglass Shades and Twelve Lights
By Litecraft
Located in Chicago, IL
hourglass shades with upper and lower sockets, pierced triangular design and grey enameled interiors.
Brass
Sold
H 49.5 in Dm 42 in
Mid Century Hourglass Chandelier in Hand-Blown Champagne Murano Glass by Seguso
By Archimede Seguso
Located in New York, NY
abundance of textured translucent hourglass form shades in a sumptuous champagne hue. It attaches to the
Chrome
Murano Glass Pendant by Carlo Nason for Mazzega
By AVMazzega, Carlo Nason
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful hourglass shaped Murano glass pendant designed by Carlo Nason for Mazzega in the 1960s
Sold
H 55 in W 38 in D 38 in
Italian Architectural Mid Century Enameled & Brass Tiffany Blue Chandelier
By Stilnovo
Located in West Hartford, CT
Large architectural hourglass pendant chandelier with five canisters. In the style of Stilnovo
Brass, Enamel, Aluminum
Sold
H 29.5 in W 20 in D 20 in
1950s Diabolo, Hourglass Pierced Brass-Plated Chandelier with Glass Lens
By Lightolier, Electrolier Manufacturing Co., Stilnovo
Located in St- Leonard, Quebec
Each pierced brass-plated shade is 14 inches high by 7 inches diameter for the lower portion. All remaining hardware is made of brass. Under each shade, there is glass lens (Fresn...
Brass
Sold
H 36 in W 27 in D 27 in
Otto Kolb Diabolo / Hourglass Three-Arm Six Light Chandelier , 1950s , USA
Located in St- Leonard, Quebec
Superb Classic Kolb design, featuring their characteristic shade and rotating joint permitting slight angular adjustment in all direction. Spun aluminium, brass stem and hardware. ...
Brass, Aluminum
Fog and Morup Pendant
Located in Southampton, NY
Spun aluminum and stainless steel hourglass pendant with up and down light sockets; chain pull;
Huge Mid-Century Modern Hourglass Double Cone Light Chandelier Pendant Lamp
Located in Salt Lake City, UT
This is a large chandelier in great vintage condition has wear from age and use some paint inside the cones is chipping off the outside of the cones are all very clean this c...
Metal, Steel
Opal Glass & Chrome Hourglass Light
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Possibly designed by Paolo Buffa or Gio Ponti. Frosted opal glass rests inside a decorative chrome frame. Has a chain hang that is adjustable. 35"H with chain & canopy.
CategoryVintage 1940s Italian Chandeliers and Pendants
Striped Green, Blue and White Venini Pendant
Located in Hollywood, CA
Striped green and blue white glass Venini pendant in an hourglass shape that is more bulbous and
Glass
Rare Pair of Sconces by Angelo Lelii for Arredoluce
By Angelo Lelii, Arredoluce
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare Pair of Sconces by Angelo Lelii for Arredoluce. Designed and manufactured in Italy, circa the 1950s. A delicate and feminine yellow enameled shade, backed by a curved enameled r...
Aluminum, Brass
Boris Lacroix Wall Lights, 1960
By Jean Boris Lacroix
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of elegant articulate wall lights by Jean Boris Lacroix, France in brushed aluminum and enameled metal, swivel joint at the cylinder, ball joint at the back plate, circle of per...
Metal, Aluminum
$1,630Sale Price|27% Off
H 8.27 in W 3.55 in D 1.19 in
Mid-Century Modern Brass Italian Door Handle, Circa 1940
Located in Ibiza, Spain
This Mid-Century Modern door handle, crafted from solid brass, exemplifies the design aesthetics of Italy in the 1940s. Its iconic style and durable material reflect the era's focus ...
Brass
$105Sale Price|73% Off
H 8 in W 5 in D 9 in
Prototype Black & Nickel Wall Sconce A by Research.Lighting, In Stock
By Research.Lighting
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This listing is for 1x prototype Black & Nickel Sconce from Research Lighting. Materials: Steel, Brass, Aluminum Dimensions: 5in W x 8in H x 9.in D Finish: Painted Black & ...
Metal
$483 / item
H 5.52 in W 4.14 in D 7.09 in
Italian Modern "Gina" Wall Lights Stilnovo Style, Bedside Sconces
By Stilnovo
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Italian modern diabolo sconces. The lampshades are adjustable and can light in different directions. E14 bulbs per lampshade. Beautiful sculptural and decorative wall light style Sti...
Metal, Brass
LUdown Cylinder Flush Mount
By Lumfardo Luminaires
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The LUdown cylinder flush mount fixture by Lumfardo Luminaires is part of our contemporary collection. Available In patinated unlacquerd brass or aged silver and steel with (1) E26 m...
Steel, Brass, Gold, Silver
$1,087 / item
H 28.35 in W 25.6 in D 25.6 in
Mid-Century Modern Farmer Series Chair by Gerd Lange for Bofinger, 1960s
By Bofinger, Gerd Lange
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Farmer Series Chair by Gerd Lange for Bofinger. - Special design classics from the Bofinger Farmer Program - Designed by Gerd Lange from the 1960s - Dismantleable furnit...
Canvas, Wood
Frosted Glass Pendant by Napako, Prague, 1960s
By Napako
Located in London, GB
A frosted glass pendant light manufactured by Napako, Prague, during the 1960s. This type of glass pendant light was typical of the sort of lighting manufactured by Napako during the...
Metal
Pair of teak bedside tables, Italy, 1950s
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
Pair of teak bedside tables with drawer beneath the top and sculpted legs, Italian manufacture, 1950s. Compact and versatile, this pair of Italian bedside tables from the 1950s is d...
Teak
$1,207 / set
H 9.85 in Dm 1.97 in
Alain Richard - Pair of Mid-century A5 Sconces circa 1960 - era Biny, Guariche
By Alain Richard, Disderot
Located in Camblanes et Meynac, FR
Alain Richard - Pair of Mid-century A5 sconces circa 1960 - era Biny, Guariche Pair of sconces A5, iconic model of the french designer Alain Richard for Pierre Disderot. Fully adj...
Metal, Steel
Large Hanging Pendant with Birch Dowels by Mel Smilow
By Mel Smilow
Located in New York, NY
The Large Hanging Pendant is part of the re-issued Smilow Lighting Collection, originally designed by Mel Smilow in 1956 and officially reintroduced by his daughter Judy Smilow in 20...
Brass
Yki Nummi 'Lokki' large white acrylic pendant for Innolux Oy
By Yki Nummi, Innolux Finland
Located in Glendale, CA
Yki Nummi 'Lokki' large white acrylic pendant for Innolux Oy. Designed in 1960, Nummi's innovative 'Lokki' is one of the best-known finnish design Classics. The name Lokki comes fr...
Metal
Brass and Alabaster Shield Chandelier by Glustin Luminaires
By Glustin Creation
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Round chandelier designed by Glustin Luminaires, made of a central vertical stem, eight arms of light each holding a concave satin brass reflector and a convex alabaster diffuser for...
Alabaster, Brass
Pair of Sconces by Gilardi and Barzaghi
By Gilardi & Barzaghi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Sconces by Gilardi and Barzaghi. Designed and manufactured in Italy, circa the 1950s. Two off-white enameled perforated shades are paired onto flex brass arms, allowing the u...
Aluminum, Brass
Pair of Mid-Century Two Tier Tile Top End Tables, circa 1950
By Kagan-Dreyfuss, Inc., Gordon & Jane Martz
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Pair of Mid-Century Two Tier Tile Top End Tables circa 1950 "Interstate Tile & Marble Co" Miami, Florida lower table is 15.25" high upper table is 22.25" high "perfect for an all ...
Metal
$6,884Sale Price|40% Off
H 11.03 in W 51.19 in D 31.5 in
Willy Rizzo attributed Majorelle blue lacquer and brass coffee table 1970s
By Willy Rizzo, Mario Sabot
Located in Paris, IDF
This stunning coffee table is guaranteed to be the focus of attention when you entertain guests in your living room. Following the glamorous mid-century look of other classic Willy R...
Brass
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.
There are many lessons to be learned from the lofts, apartments and townhouses of architects and decorators in Manhattan and beyond.
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.