Old Chandeliers
Vintage 1970s American Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
2010s American Chandeliers and Pendants
Steel, Silver Leaf
20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Murano Glass
Vintage 1970s French Louis XVI Chandeliers and Pendants
Bronze
Vintage 1980s French Louis XVI Chandeliers and Pendants
Bronze
Early 20th Century European Napoleon III Chandeliers and Pendants
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Murano Glass
2010s Spanish Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Stainless Steel
Mid-20th Century Italian Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Murano Glass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Murano Glass
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Bronze
Vintage 1940s German Hollywood Regency Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal, Gold Leaf
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Dutch Colonial Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Dutch Colonial Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Dutch Colonial Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
20th Century Italian Art Deco Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal, Brass
1990s Dutch Chandeliers and Pendants
Steel
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Murano Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Flush Mount
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary British Hollywood Regency Floor Lamps
Gold Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary British Hollywood Regency Floor Lamps
Gold Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary British Hollywood Regency Floor Lamps
Gold Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary British Hollywood Regency Floor Lamps
Gold Leaf
Vintage 1940s French Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass, Bronze
Antique 19th Century Italian Chandeliers and Pendants
Vintage 1940s Italian Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Antique 19th Century Italian Chandeliers and Pendants
Plaster
Vintage 1940s French Chandeliers and Pendants
Iron
20th Century Italian Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Metal
Antique Late 19th Century Dutch Rustic Chandeliers and Pendants
Bronze
Antique 19th Century European Chandeliers and Pendants
Bronze
Vintage 1930s French Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Iron
Vintage 1930s French Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Vintage 1930s Italian Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Bronze
Early 20th Century Austrian Baroque Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Vintage 1970s Italian Chandeliers and Pendants
Glass
Early 20th Century American Chandeliers and Pendants
Copper, Wrought Iron
Vintage 1950s American Industrial Chandeliers and Pendants
Aluminum
Vintage 1940s French Chandeliers and Pendants
Bronze
Vintage 1940s Spanish Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Bronze
Vintage 1910s French Art Nouveau Chandeliers and Pendants
Glass
Vintage 1970s Italian Chandeliers and Pendants
Glass
20th Century American Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal
Antique 1740s American Chandeliers and Pendants
Iron
Early 20th Century Unknown Gothic Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Chandeliers and Pendants
Bronze
20th Century French Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal
Early 20th Century Italian Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Brass
Antique Early 19th Century Dutch Chandeliers and Pendants
Bronze
Vintage 1930s French Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Brass
20th Century French Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Brass, Bronze
Vintage 1970s Italian Chandeliers and Pendants
Glass
Vintage 1930s Danish Scandinavian Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
- 1
Old Chandeliers For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Old Chandeliers?
Finding the Right Chandeliers And Pendants for You
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022To tell how old your chandelier is, look for a maker’s mark often included somewhere on the chandelier. From there, you can research the specific company that manufactured it. Also consider the power source — candle- and gas-lit chandeliers were common until the early 1900s when electric chandeliers became popular. Even if your chandelier was upgraded to be fully electric, check for signs of the previous system. Shop a collection of vintage and contemporary chandeliers from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- How did old chandeliers work?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Old chandeliers first worked because of taper candles inserted into their frames and lit nightly to provide illumination for a room. In the 18th century, chandeliers produced flickering flames fueled by natural gas, butane, propane or a similar substance. On 1stDibs, find a variety of antique and vintage chandeliers.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022You can update an old brass chandelier in many ways. Refinish it with spray paint to give it a more modern hue or slip new sleeves over the candles. You can also add embellishments like crystals to the frame. On 1stDibs, find a variety of antique and vintage chandeliers.
Read More
This 1950s Paavo Tynell Chandelier Got a Glow-Up
Commissioned for the lakeside villa of a Finnish industrialist, it illuminated visits with dignitaries.
These Designer Light Fixtures Are Total Scene Stealers
Across New York, there’s no shortage of statement lighting on view.
My Father Was Obsessed with This French Art Deco Tiger Lamp
The 1920s design is a thrilling combination of saturated colors, ancient motifs and modern aesthetics.
Hans Bergström’s Monumental Chandeliers Are Made for Grand Spaces
Designed by a giant of Swedish lighting, the large-scale fixtures bring major drama.
This Paavo Tynell Chandelier Is a Radiant Bouquet
The alluring pendant light exemplifies the designer’s winsome mid-career work.
Ettore Sottsass Captures a Shooting Star in This Rare 1970s Floor Lamp
Before founding the Memphis Group, Sottsass bent the rules of lighting design with the wonderfully wavy Cometa.
You Don’t Need a Fictional Fairy to Get This Real Pinocchio Lamp
Warm chalet style meets cool Bauhaus functionality in Pietro Cascella’s cleverly carved creation.
Why Is Italy Such a Hotbed of Cool Design?
Patrizio Chiarparini of Brooklyn’s Duplex gallery sheds light on the lasting legacy of Italy’s postwar furniture boom.