Buying An Antique Crystal Chandelier Or Other Old Fixture

An old chandelier can offer a higher quality and more attractive ambiance than most newer fixtures, making it a great pick if you’re decorating a period home. It can be hard to match the decorative elements in some of these buildings, making use of a period chandelier a smart idea. Buying an antique crystal chandelier can be daunting for the new shopper, however – you could end up with something that’s just not up to snuff. Here are a few tips to help you find an old chandelier that’ll really bring your room together.

Before you go shopping, take some time to think about the type of chandelier you’d like most. You should be certain to match the architecture and style of your home. It’s important to choose a chandelier that will work with your taste and the current trends, but a good match with the architecture assures you of getting a chandelier that’ll look great for decades to come. An antique crystal chandelier in a 1950s ranch house looks out of place, even if it fits in with your taste and the current trend for antiques. Try to look for a happy medium, finding an old chandelier that’ll match your house without going out of style.

Be sure to shop around for your antique crystal chandelier or other fixtures. While antique stores are an excellent place to start, they’re not the only option. You can find fixtures at the flea market, at a garage sale, or an estate sale. Classified listings may turn up great old chandeliers, too. You might find a great deal from someone who’s trying to clean out the basement, attic, or garage, or who’s going through the stored belongings of a relative. Remember that when you get a fixture from this kind of source, documentation can be difficult to find. It can be hard to find out just what you have, and getting your chandelier in working order could be a challenge.

For those who are shopping in more conventional ways, find out when each item was produced, and what it’s made of. Remember that the tag might not be accurate. Learn a lot about the type of chandelier you’re interested in so that you can spot labeling mistakes. This takes a bit of effort, but it’ll keep you from buying a piece labeled “Victorian” that’s really just a reproduction from the past few decades. Reproductions are fine, when you know what you’re buying, but you shouldn’t pay for them as though they were antiques. Another thing to remember is that most older light fixtures are very high quality, since they’ve survived this long. However, not everything made a long time ago is of superior workmanship. Don’t allow yourself to buy discarded junk from the past!

Another concern with true antiques is compatibility with your home. Modern chandeliers will all be electric, and up to code. An old chandelier, on the other hand, could be electric, gas fueled, kerosene, or even meant to hold candles. Any chandelier that won’t work with your home will need modification, and even old electric models won’t necessarily work with your wiring. Before electric power was standardized, fixtures could run on DC current or a different voltage. Damaged wires are another concern. When buying an old electric chandelier, be sure to have a licensed and experienced electrician check it out first.