Palwa Flushmount with Swarovski Crystals, Germany, 1960s

The Bohemian tradition of opulent handcrafted crystal lighting begins with the Palme name. Founded in 1724 in Parchen, Bohemia (Austria-Hungary), Christoph Palme & Co. was initially named for lighting designer Josef Palme, who created crystal chandeliers by hand for the likes of King Louis XV and Austrian royalty. (A venturesome style of chandelier with no central supporting post was created during the era for Austrian Empress Maria Theresa before she was crowned Queen of Bohemia in 1743 — now known as the Maria Theresa chandelier — and Josef Palme created fixtures in this style.)

When Josef died in the mid-18th century, his younger brother Christoph took the helm of the family-owned company, and the brand has retained the name since then. 

Over time, Christoph Palme chandeliers and other lighting fixtures could be found in the living quarters of Russian Tsarina Elizabeth, Turkish Sultan Oman III and the decadent palaces of the kings of Saudi Arabia. In the postwar years, Palme lighting facilities trading under a range of names opened in West Germany, including Reinhold Palme & Sohne, Palme & Walter, Gerhard Palme and Christoph Palme Leuchten.

A handful of electric chandeliers manufactured by Christoph Palme & Co. were installed in the East Room of the White House during Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency, owing to Edward F. Caldwell & Co. having commissioned the historic manufacturer to create the fixtures. That Manhattan’s Edward F. Caldwell & Co. partnered with Christoph Palme lighting shouldn’t surprise collectors; the New York City firm was a leading electric lighting company whose own quality, elegant fixtures borrowed heavily from Baroque, Rococo and other historical styles.

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. 

In the modern era, the work of Christoph Palme & Co. has reflected changing tastes and an effort to preserve and uphold the sterling reputation of the centuries-old manufacturer. Brass and gold-plated mid-century modern designs were occasionally outfitted with an exquisite array of Swarovski crystals that dazzled in daylight, while partnerships with Venini and Palwa during the 1960s and 1970s yielded magnificent Hollywood Regency-style sconces and flush mount ceiling lights. These drew on natural forms and often featured an integration of clear Murano glass “drops” mounted on gilt-brass frames. 

On 1stDibs, find antique and vintage Christoph Palme lighting.