| Never before in the long history of the | | | | all the festoons and bags drops, glass |
| chandelier has there been such choice as | | | | arms, full panoply of other elements, |
| there is today. You can buy over the | | | | the French chandelier is distinctively |
| internet or in person. You can scour the | | | | never heavy or crowded and always |
| brocante stalls in French markets or the | | | | alluring. |
| junk shops in England or America. | | | | Perhaps the best known and longest |
| When you hang a French chandelier in | | | | established chandelier maker in France |
| your home you acquire something | | | | is the firm of Baccarat, which continues |
| beautiful and practical and an object | | | | to thrive today. |
| that will become a focus for the room. | | | | Chandeliers come in all shapes and sizes |
| Other decorations will revolve around | | | | - some more unusual than others. Amongst |
| it. It will become a talking point, the | | | | some of the most eccentric charming |
| centrepiece. A fireplace draws attention | | | | chandeliers are those designed to |
| to a lower level in a room; whereas a | | | | represent hot-air balloons. The early |
| chandelier is the highest point of a | | | | nineteenth century saw a wave of |
| room's decoration. | | | | enthusiasm for hot-air balloons, |
| The type of chandelier which is | | | | prompted by the first balloon flight by |
| associated with French work is more open | | | | the Montgolfier brothers, Michel and |
| with its main structural support | | | | Joseph travelling through the air for |
| supplied not by chains or a stem but | | | | some six miles in 1783. Some Montgolfier |
| rather by a cage or frame with prettily | | | | chandeliers are French others Italian. |
| curved arms, often gilded and with | | | | One of the things you need to be |
| candles or drops in the centre space. | | | | absolutely sure of is that your |
| Like English chandeliers, they have | | | | chandelier is safe; that when it is |
| pendants and chains of drops. | | | | installed it will stay up, it won't shed |
| The difference is that instead of being | | | | pieces on your head and it won't |
| massed together, they are however spaced | | | | electrocute anyone or burn the house |
| further apart so that they can be seen | | | | down. |
| individually. The effect is extremely | | | | If you bought you chandelier from a |
| delicate and ornate without being | | | | brocante or a market you should use |
| elaborate. | | | | common sense about its wiring. Any |
| The ironwork on French chandeliers by | | | | chandelier is only as good as safe |
| the 1900s was superbly refined and | | | | electrically speaking as the circuit of |
| attractive. The stem might have leaves | | | | which it is part. Have it tested by an |
| and stalks curling off it supporting | | | | electrician and rewired if in doubt. |
| crystal drops, beads and flowers. For | | | | |