Chandeliers can be traced backed to medieval times where they would be found mainly in churches, monasteries, and other large gathering places. These earliest chandeliers were very often just a couple of wooden beams connected in the shape of a cross. The wooden beams would have a pricket, or spike, on each end. Candles would be secured to each spike and the whole assembly hoisted to the desired height by a rope or chain suspended from a hook. This assembly provided greater light than the usual candle-lit wall scones which illuminated just a small, specific area of a room or hallway.
As time went on more elaborate and complex forms of chandeliers became popular. The chandelier was not only used to illuminate a room but took on a decorative function as well. These chandeliers would only be found in the homes or palaces of the very wealthy or those of aristocratic heritage and soon became a symbol of wealth, luxury, and status.
These early chandeliers used mirrors and quartz (rock crystals) to reflect the light of the candles. However, rock crystals were rare, expensive, and hard to work with. Then, in 1674, George Ravenscroft, a wealthy businessman in the glass business, developed and started to produce lead crystal glass. Ravenscroft found that adding lead to glass during its manufacture enhanced the brilliance of the glass and made it highly refractive and much easier to cut. It soon became quite popular and it wasn’t long before lead crystal was used in the making of chandeliers. (Ravenscroft did not invent lead crystal but he did improve the process of making it. Still highly admired, less than a dozen Ravenscroft pieces are known to exist today.)
In 1892, Daniel Swarovski invented a machine which revolutionized the process of crystal cutting. Swarovski filed for patents and in 1895 started his company, Swarovski (which is still in business today!). Swarovski crystal is known for its maximum refraction and brilliance.
During the 19th century, with gas light replacing candles and oil lamps as the main source of illumination, many candle chandeliers were converted to gas. By the end of the century, with the advent of electricity and its use for illumination, chandeliers were produced that used both gas and electricity. As the distribution of electricity became wider and more dependable, chandeliers wired just for electricity became the standard. And today, while almost all chandeliers produced are wired for electricity, they are often used more as a decorative focal point and may not even be used for illumination.
