What is a Candle Chandelier?

Before electricity a candle chandelier was one the best ways to provide light to a large room, but not the most efficient way, in fact as they were expensive and costly to maintain a candle chandelier was a powerful status symbol. Furthermore, and this is still valid today, a large chandelier only looks good in a very large room with a high ceiling, and you had to be wealthy to live in a very large house.

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A candle chandelier looks good and creates an atmosphere like no other source of light. When crystal chandeliers were introduced in the 18th century, the light produced by candles could create even more mesmerizing effects when reflected on the crystals. Typically the most expensive ones are Bohemian crystal chandeliers, a crystal industry that goes back several centuries. Otherwise there are lovely Murano glass chandeliers, clearly all made of Venetian glass, or shell or beaded chandeliers that can also produce interesting light effects.

There are also some candle chandeliers that have a more utilitarian look such as the metal candle chandeliers or the wrought iron chandelier. Antler chandeliers made of the antlers of an elk or deer (no harm done to animals as they discard their antlers naturally once a year, these are then collected from the ground) look perfect on a countryside or mountain abode or even a room with a rustic or alpine look. Most antler chandeliers are made for electricity but as there are often made by artisans on demand, you can always ask for a chandelier made for candles if you so wish.

These days as we do not normally use candles to provide us with light indoors and many people will buy a candle chandelier as an ornament without lighting the candles (or if they do, it would be only occasionally). There is an obvious health and safety risk and fire hazard by keeping all those candles in the house, after all, in the US, 10% of house fires are still caused by candles. For those who still want a chandelier that looks like it has candles, but don’t want the risk and the hassle that come with real candles, they are many which have quite credible fake candles and LED candles do the job very well. The vast majority of chandeliers on the market today is made to be used with electricity but if you still like to have a candle chandelier (real or fake) or buy one to give it as a present, there are many types and models available on the internet and occasionally some antique candle chandeliers that have not been converted to electricity. For instance, if you are one of those people that still think that there is nothing better than candles then the simple and solid wrought iron candle chandeliers made by Amish communities are quite widely available and very affordable.