Pair of Palme Walter KG Crystal Wall Sconces, 1960s Germany

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, his younger brother Christoph took the helm of the family-owned company during the mid-18th century, 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 Elisabeth, Turkish Sultan Oman III, and in 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 that drew on natural forms and often featured an integration of clear Murano glass “drops” mounted on gilt-brass frames. 

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