History of the Crystal Chandelier

If the chandelier always feels like it has been around in one way or another, that is probably because it has. The earliest known use of chandeliers is from medieval times, where they were used in places of worship and assembly. However, the common chandelier that you may have seen in a medieval church would have been very different to the designs known and loved today. The original chandeliers were nothing more than a wooden cross, complete with a number of simple spikes on which candles were fitted. Their original use in churches and places of worship may explain their simple cross like appearance, although this could have just as easily been a practical design choice to allow for multiple sources of illumination.

 

While the chandelier may have seen few changes initially, it slowly became more complex and ornate as the years and centuries went on. By the 15th century, much more complex and decorative chandelier styles were becoming common, with many based on ring or crown type designs. The movement from the wooden cross to the crown may illustrate their movement across the classes, from their initial use in churches to their later use in royal houses and homes of the nobility. There are a number of reasons why chandeliers and the crystal chandelier (Kronleuchter Lüster) in particular have always been associated with the wealthy classes of society. Due to the high cost of night time illumination, only wealthy people could afford the fuel to use chandeliers at all. This link to the upper classes of Europe became even more pronounced over time, especially when crystals, gold, and other expensive decorative elements became a common part of chandelier design and manufacture.

In the 19th century, when gas became the common fuel used for illumination, many existing chandeliers were transformed to run on gas. By the 1890s when electricity kicked in, many chandeliers were produced that used both forms of fuel. In the 20th century chandeliers began to be used less just for illumination, and instead became primarily decorative features to indicate wealth and beauty. Chandeliers continue to be the focal point in many rooms around the world, although rarely are they the only form of illumination within an interior space. A number of modern chandelier designs have also been made during the last 50 years, as designers play with geometry and materials while still keeping with the classic chandelier structures and tradition.