Large modern plaster shell chandelier in style of Diego Giacometti
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Large modern French shell-shaped chandelier, handcrafted to the highest standards.
Metal
2 French Plaster Shell Chandeliers / Pendants by Jean Charles Moreux, 1930
By Jean-Charles Moreux
Located in New York, NY
Rare French mid-century dramatic plaster pendants / chandeliers in the form of three intersecting sea shells by Jean Charles Moreux (1889-1956).
Plaster
$2,808Sale Price / item|41% Off
Serge Roche Attributed Cast Painted Plaster Clam Shell Chandelier, 1950s
By Serge Roche
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Serge Roche Attributed Cast Lacquered Plaster Clam Shell Chandelier Of the period, France, circa 1950s, attributed to Serge Roche (1898-1988) Sold individually.
Metal
$6,085 / item
Stylised Shell Plaster Ceiling Light
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
A decorative ceiling light inspired by Jean Michel Franck, featuring a stylized shell-shaped bowl with internal lighting, an adjustable rope cable, and a plaster canopy.
Plaster
Italian Shell Motif Plaster Light Fixture
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1950's Italian plaster shell light fixture with 4 interior lights. Measurements: Diameter: 20" Drop: 32"
Metal
Large (29") Smooth Undulating White Plaster Shell Pendant Light
Located in San Francisco, CA
A plaster pendant in a smooth, undulating shell shape, with scalloped edges. A newer take on Francis Elkins's 1940s plaster plafonnier. Hanging by four white chains; with 3 medium ba...
Metal
$16,000 / item
Set of Large Shell Plaster Fixtures. Sold Individually
Located in New York, NY
A set of 8 large circa 1940's French plaster light fixtures with silver leaf finish. The body in the shape of a large shell, with eight interior lights. Priced and sold individually....
Silver Leaf
Set of Large Shell Shaped Plaster Fixtures, Sold individually
Located in New York, NY
Set of 8, circa 1940s French plaster light fixtures, in the shape of shells, with silver-leaf finish. Sold individually. Measurements Height: 40" Diameter: 30"
Plaster
Ribbed (22") Circular Undulating White Plaster Shell Pendant Light
Located in San Francisco, CA
A plaster pendant in an undulating shell shape, with scalloped edges and imprinted lines accentuating the form. A newer take on Francis Elkins's 1940's plaster plafonnier. Hanging by...
Metal
Small (12") Ribbed Circular Undulating White Plaster Shell Pendant Light
Located in San Francisco, CA
A plaster pendant in an undulating shell shape, with scalloped edges and imprinted lines accentuating the form. A newer take on Francis Elkins's 1940s plaster plafonnier. Hanging by ...
Metal
Styled in the Manner of Frances Elkins 1930s Plaster Shell Chandelier
By Frances Elkins
Located in San Francisco, CA
Styled in the manner of Frances Elkins 1930s plaster shell chandelier.
Plaster
WP Sullivan Plaster Shell Chandelier
By W.P. Sullivan
Located in New York, NY
WP Sullivan the shell chandelier Sculpted shell form chandelier in cast plaster resin.
Plaster, Resin
Plaster Shell Pendant
Located in San Francisco, CA
1970s cast plaster shell pendant light. Newly rewired, new canopy and chain. Cream gloss finish.
Brass
Cast Plaster Shell Pendant
Located in San Francisco, CA
1970s Cast Plaster Shell Pendant. White matte finish. Newly rewired, new canopy and chain. UL listing available for an additional fee.
Brass
Shell Chandelier
Located in Washington, DC
Shell chandelier. The chain can be adjusted for height.
Plaster
Mid Century Plaster Shell Light Fixture
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1950's French plaster and composition painted light fixture. Measurements: Height 31.5" Diameter 22".
Composition
Vintage Ribbed Circular Undulating White Plaster Shell Pendant Light
By Phoenix Day Co. Inc.
Located in San Francisco, CA
A plaster pendant in an undulating shell shape, with scalloped edges and imprinted lines accentuating the form. Made by Phoenix Day of San Francisco in the 1970s. The original canopy...
Metal
Sea Shell Ceiling Fixture in Plaster by Sirmos
By Sirmos
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Suspended scalloped plaster sea shell ceiling fixture by Sirmos, American 1970's
Gilded Shell Pendant
Located in San Francisco, CA
A new take on an old Classic. These plaster shell pendants have been gilded. They are one of the older shell pendants and there is horsehair in the plaster. Newly rewired, UL listing...
Plaster
Frances Elkins Hanging Shell Light
Located in New York, NY
FRANCES ELKINS (1888-1953)
Plaster plafonnier in the shape of a scallop shell suspended from 3 chains.
American, c. 1940
PROVENANCE: From the Estate of K...
Plaster
Large White Vintage Casella Undulating Shell Pendant Lights, 2 Available
By Casella Lighting
Located in San Francisco, CA
We have two of these lacquered plaster pendants in an undulating shell shape, with scalloped edges and imprinted lines accentuating the form. A newer take on Francis Elkins's 1940s p...
Metal
Silver Plated Plaster Shell Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1970's Italian silver plated shell light fixture with six interior lights. Measurements: Height: 31" Width: 28"
Plaster
WP Sullivan Plaster Shell Chandelier for Carlos A.
By W.P. Sullivan
Located in New York, NY
WP Sullivan the shell chandelier Sculpted shell form chandelier in cast plaster resin.
Resin, Plaster
Vintage Plaster Shell Pendant
Located in San Francisco, CA
Large sized plaster shell pendant light fashioned after Frances Elkins' design. Newly rewired, UL listing available for an additional fee.
Brass
Mammoth White Plaster Shell Pendant
Located in San Francisco, CA
A lacquered plaster pendant in an undulating shell shape, with scalloped edges and imprinted lines accentuating the form. A newer take on Francis Elkins's 1940s plaster plafonnier. H...
Metal
Large Smooth Undulating Plaster Shell Pendant
Located in San Francisco, CA
A plaster pendant in a smooth, undulating shell shape, with scalloped edges. A newer take on Francis Elkins's 1940s plaster plafonnier. Hanging by four white chains; with 4 medium ba...
Metal
Circular Undulating Smooth Plaster Shell Pendant
Located in San Francisco, CA
A plaster pendant in a smooth, undulating shell shape, with scalloped edges. A newer take on Francis Elkins's 1940s plaster plafonnier. Hanging by three white chains; with 3 medium b...
Metal
Vintage Undulating Ribbed Plaster Shell Pendant
By Casella Lighting
Located in San Francisco, CA
A pendant made by Caasella Lighting in San Francisco in the 1970s. A plaster pendant in an undulating shell shape, with scalloped edges and imprinted lines accentuating the form. A n...
Brass
Circular Undulating Smooth Plaster Shell Pendant, 17"
Located in San Francisco, CA
A plaster pendant in a smooth, undulating shell shape, with scalloped edges. A newer take on Francis Elkins's 1940s plaster plafonnier. Hanging by three white chains; with 3 medium b...
Metal
Vintage 26" Plaster Sand Dollar Shell Pendant or Chandelier by Sirmos 2 of 3
By Frances Elkins
Located in Minneapolis, MN
The shell, which measures approximately 26" in diameter, is made of reinforced plaster.
Fiberglass, Plaster
Vintage 26" Plaster Sand Dollar Shell Pendant or Chandelier by Sirmos 1 of 3
By Frances Elkins
Located in Minneapolis, MN
The shell, which measures approximately 26" in diameter, is made of reinforced plaster.
Fiberglass, Plaster
Vintage 26" Plaster Sand Dollar Shell Pendant or Chandelier by Sirmos 3 of 3
By Frances Elkins
Located in Minneapolis, MN
The shell, which measures approximately 26" in diameter, is made of reinforced plaster.
Fiberglass, Plaster
Large Vintage Undulating Ribbed Plaster Shell Light & Canopy
Located in San Francisco, CA
A plaster pendant in an undulating shell shape, with scalloped edges and imprinted lines accentuating the form. The original canopy is a decorative gadrooned finial. A newer take on ...
Brass
Circular Undulating Ribbed Plaster Shell Pendant, 22" 4-light
Located in San Francisco, CA
A lacquered plaster pendant in an undulating shell shape, with scalloped edges and imprinted lines accentuating the form. A newer take on Francis Elkins's 1940s plaster plafonnier. H...
Plaster
Mid-Century Modern Vintage Shell Shape Plaster Pendant Light Fixture
By Serge Roche
Located in San Francisco, CA
Vintage Serge Roche style shell shape pale green smooth plaster pendant fixture with gilded brass chain. An unusual pale green color with high quality hardware. Recently re-wired a...
Brass
White Vintage Casella Undulating Shell Pendant Light
By Casella Lighting
Located in San Francisco, CA
A white, lacquered plaster pendant in an undulating shell shape, with scalloped edges and imprinted lines accentuating the form. A newer take on Francis Elkins's 1940s plaster plafon...
Metal
Big Plaster Shell Chandelier
Located in Paris, FR
An impressive plaster shell chandelier, circa 1980, made for a project in a chic Paris hotel, new electricity.
Pair of Plaster Shell Chandeliers
Located in Paris, FR
The last pair of plaster shell chandeliers, made for a project hotel in Paris, circa 1980.
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.
Designer Eva Menz wants the light to "evoke curiosity and a sense of wonder."
Working with resin, a tricky material, has created moments of failure — and enlightenment.
Commissioned for the lakeside villa of a Finnish industrialist, it illuminated visits with dignitaries.
Across New York, there’s no shortage of statement lighting on view.
The 1920s design is a thrilling combination of saturated colors, ancient motifs and modern aesthetics.
Designed by a giant of Swedish lighting, the large-scale fixtures bring major drama.
The alluring pendant light exemplifies the designer’s winsome mid-career work.
Before founding the Memphis Group, Sottsass bent the rules of lighting design with the wonderfully wavy Cometa.