Suppose, you have an antique chandelier installed in your home, but you don’t know its origin. So, you’ve always wanted to know about the manufacturer of this chandelier. But, you don’t know how to identify a chandelier manufacturer. No problem since we’re here. Today, we will teach you how to identify any chandelier manufacturer by yourself using a few simple techniques.
Methods Of Identifying Chandelier Manufacturer
If you think you can simply identify a chandelier manufacturer by seeing the mark or stamp attached to the chandelier, it’s actually impossible for an antique piece. Because, most of the antique chandeliers don’t have any of them. If you buy a modern chandelier, you may get such a mark on the chandelier, and this type of chandelier is easily identifiable.
On the other hand, when you have no maker’s mark on the chandelier, an antique piece of a chandelier can be identified through the unique characteristics and design types. Not to mention, the antique chandeliers are usually made using crystals. For this reason, any specialized person in crystals may not find it hard to identify an old chandelier.
Examine The Drip Pans
In most cases, the drip pans are called bobeche. These are actually cup-like crystal pieces of exceptional chandeliers and are designed accordingly for different manufacturers. Identically, you’ll see these crystals at the candle nozzle’s base to hold the candle wax. If you can spot the specific design of these crystals, identifying the designer is pretty straightforward.
If the body of the chandelier has some curved arms along with a unique feature of thumb-printing, it may be from the respected British chandelier makers called Perry & Co. Not to mention, this unique thumb-printing design comes with depression in an oval shape. Besides, the underside of the pan is also filled with repeated depression of the same type. So, all these features show the identity of Perry & Co.
When you find the chandelier arms with candle-shaped lights on them, there is a possibility that F & C Osler of London made the chandelier. Notably, they have been one of the leading chandelier makers since the 19th century. To identify more precisely, try to find brass fittings on each arm. Usually, their shades of arms are designed with the shape of tulips. So, you can simply identify this manufacturer by checking the profound and unique chandelier arms.
In case your chandelier has brass drip pans, it may be a chandelier from Baltic manufacturers. On the other hand, French chandeliers come with a floral shape in their drip pans. Besides, their drip pans are made using pressed glass and have a shallow feature in them. When you are talking about British manufacturers, they usually design dip pans with the shape of a star. Identically, this uniquely designed drip pan has multiple drops which look like almonds.
Besides, each glass piece of the design has holes in one or both ends through drilling. In this way, the drops hang from each point of the drip pan. If all these things match with yours, then it is a British chandelier.
Look at the drip pans closely and see if they have a design similar to the pie crusts. When the pans come with fluted edges, and the shapes seem round, it is most likely a classic Baccarat chandelier. Usually, these drip pans are made using glasses that are cut thin to make a slight texture.
Identify The Glass Color
It is evident that the color of the crystals for every chandelier is not the same. The interesting fact is that the color difference of the chandelier shows the age and origins of different cultures and manufacturers. So, you should look at the color of crystal glass very carefully. And, to be specific, try to find a gray tint in the glasses. This thing ensures that the glass is from the 19th century. Because, the reason for this specific color gradient is due to the high lead content in it.
And, you’ll be amazed to know that only 19th-century manufacturers used to produce such antique pieces. Therefore, you can easily differentiate an antique chandelier from a modern chandelier. As a result, identifying an authentic antique piece becomes simple when you think of buying a new one.
If you find a unique piece in the center of your chandelier that looks like a dish, most probably, it is a Baltic chandelier. Not to mention, the Baltic chandeliers originated from Russia or Sweden and come with slightly bluish crystals. On the other hand, the French chandeliers have a mixed colors in crystals. But, the colored crystals are usually placed in the drops which come in the shape of plague, almond, or kite. Not to mention, these chandeliers are also called Bagues chandeliers.
Search For Unique Features
Sometimes, the reputed manufacturers add a unique feature to their design to make it distinctive from others. Identifying the manufacturer shouldn’t be an issue if you can locate any of such features. The most identical thing about an antique chandelier is that it is not made for any kind of electrical wiring. So, there is no chance that you’ll find a wiring system in an antique chandelier.
In fact, the old chandeliers were made to hold candles and later gas. Until the middle of the 19th century, people used only candle chandeliers. Then, they moved to gas-powered chandeliers. So, the electrical chandeliers are from the modern era and feature a totally different mechanism compared to older ones.
Markedly, the gas used chandeliers were called gasoliers. And, their arms were made using metal tubes or hollow glass. Besides, these arms allowed the gas to reach the candle nozzles and lighten the chandelier. With this in mind, if you see a chandelier made using a metal core in the middle and the glass crystals surround the core, it may be an Italian or Austrian chandelier. Because they use this mechanism to disassemble the chandelier for traveling purposes.
Last Speech
As has been noted, if there is any mark of the maker on the chandelier, you can simply tell the manufacturer by seeing it. But, when there is no mark or stamp attached to the chandelier, you need to identify the manufacturer from the characteristics of the chandelier. Specifically, every antique chandelier contains a unique feature or design that defines the manufacturer of its type.
