Posted 6 years ago
kwqd
(1121 items)
These two chandeliers are about 20" in diameter. These came with my house (sitting room and living room), but I consider them to be part of my collection. This is because the first thing several of my family members urged me to do when I bought this house was to remove them, lower the ceilings from 11 feet to 8 or 9 feet and replace the chandeliers with ceiling fans (!!!!!). I never seriously considered doing that but.... They have been on my mind recently as I just corrected some creative adaptations made by an earlier owner who, because these chandeliers apparently never had a way to add shades over the bulbs, wound scotch tape around the sockets until it was thick enough to just slide shades over so they would rest on the tape and not rest on the bulbs. I just recently cut the tape off and installed brass adapters to hold the shades. I still need to do the other chandelier. The house was completely rewired (ROMEX) by one of the great grandchildren of the original owners in 1991, replacing the knob and tube wiring (which can still be seen in the basement), but I don't know if he left the original wiring on the chandeliers or if it had been replaced since they were originally installed or if he used something different to blend in. He was an electrician by trade, so I trust his judgement. The attic has ROMEX in it. The house was built in 1883 and five generations of the family lived here until 1992 or 1993. I bought it in January 1998 after two other owners. The widow of the builder died in the 1920s and one of the grandchildren bought out the other heirs and remodeled the exterior to Arts and Crafts style in the early 1930s. No one living knows when the chandeliers were installed. I think they were probably installed in the 1920s. My question is, "What style are they?". I think Art Deco, but they could also be in the range of Arts and Crafts... I have not checked for a maker's mark, but will do that tomorrow.
Very much in the Art Deco style. I lived in a building which had these same ones and the builing was built in 1927 !~
Thanks PhilDMorris! I could find no maker's mark on them.
I can add that very little, if any, of the Midwest was wired for electricity in 1883. These were likely installed when the house was electrified sometime after the end of WWI - 1920s is probably correct.
Also, you are correct in thinking that these chandeliers did not originally have shades. Electric lights were a novelty and, in some ways, a marvel. The bulbs were pleasantly shaped and the warm glow was rather different from modern incandescence.
Love the painting collection, what a trove of good art. Are you planning on changing the shades to some Art Deco glass? Great post.
Thanks artfoot. I seldom use these, now, unless I a guest loses a contact lens. With the lowest wattage LED bulbs, I feel like I should be interrogating someone when the chandelier is turned on. With old 40 watt incandescents, it is a bit better. Looking for some very low watt equivalent LED bulbs. My house still has the gas fixtures in the walls, so that is how it was probably lit before electricity.
Thanks truthordare! I love being at home! I am constantly on the lookout for nicer shades. Just not found any, yet. Not sure if I will go Art Deco, or not. The rest of the inside of the house is Victorian cottage.
Thanks for loving my Art Deco chandeliers!
Caperkid
blunderbuss2
officialfuel
truthordare
artfoot
Newfld
vetraio50
fortapache
I'm going to give these bulbs a shot.
https://tinyurl.com/y83fhyvg
The bulbs look " heavy duty bright lite " but would love this in a home to be dimmable.
I have 60 watt equivalent LED bulbs in one now. These should be an improvement. The other one is on a dimmer with 40 watt incandescent bulbs.
With respect kwqd, I've gotta agree with artfoot that these fixtures might not have been intended to have 'shades' on them. Electric lights were a 'brand new technology' at the time -- thus a novelty, and/or status-symbol thing. People that were able to *have* electric lights were *proud* to have them (and brag about it?) with installations and fixtures often designed specifically to show the exposed bare bulbs. It ALSO bears remembering that even the brightest-possible light bulbs of the era would probably equate to something more like a modern 15 or 25w incandescent bulb, and cast a very 'yellow' (comparatively) colored light.
I have a similar-ish old fixture shown here, I like it with 40w incandescent 'candelabra' bulbs (and socket adapters) and a dimmer switch... ;-) :-)
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/241708-1930s-ish-fancy-five-light-exposed-bul
I agree AnythingObscure, these chandeliers likely did not originally have shades. The bulbs might even have been mounted on top, too, instead of hanging down. The new bulbs I ordered are supposedly cast more yellow light and are a third less powerful. It may be enough to make it more enjoyable to use this chandelier without a dimmer on it. I will find out tomorrow! The light switch sits behind a tall cabinet and I can just barely get my hand behind it to flick it on and off, but I might go to a dimmer on this one, too. My other chandelier is on a dimmer already and I use it much more. Though I really like having lamps scattered around and have some nice crystal, stained glass shaded and Siffel lamps, but it would be nice to have one overhead light source on occasion.
That is an imposing chandelier you have. Nice!
Thanks SEAN68 and SpiritBear!
Thanks AnythingObscure!
So I go the new LED Edison bulbs today, PhilDMorris. They are the 2200 model bulbs. The light is quite yellow and much more bearable than the 60 watt LED bulbs. It is actually just about the right amount of light for the room using only the chandelier. The bulbs are longer than the old bulbs and do protrude a bit from the shades, but not awkwardly so. I am calling it a success, and will probably just use these bulbs and maybe look for some Art Deco shades that are a bit longer. Pretty pleased.
Thanks Ms.CrystalShip!