Chandelier in Spanish

A chandelier is a branched candleholder (or electric-light holder) suspended from the ceiling. It evolved from the medieval candelabra, where openwork hoops of wood or iron held multiple prickets for candles. In modern times, a chandelier can have as few as one or as many lamps as you like and come in styles from traditional grand wrought iron to sleek contemporary. They are usually used in a number of spaces, including hallways, living rooms, staircases, and dining areas.

The word is a contraction of the Spanish noun chandelle, meaning “candleholder” or “branch-like candelabrum.” Chandeliers are often large, and their design can make a striking focal point in any room.

Throughout the 18th century, cast ormolu forms with long curved arms and a multitude of candles were popular; their designs drew on the aesthetics of ancient Greece and Rome, incorporating clean lines and classical proportions. In the same period, glassmakers in Murano, Italy, created new kinds of artistic light sources by working with soda glass, which remained “plastic” longer than crystal and could be twisted into arabesques of leaves, flowers, and fruits. These works emphasized the materiality of the chandelier, as well as the skill required to work with this challenging medium.

By the beginning of the 19th century, advances in metalworking allowed for the use of less expensive lead crystal that refracts light beautifully, enhancing the visual appeal of these fixtures. This was a crucial development in the evolution of chandeliers, and crystal quickly replaced gilded bronze as the most common material for these light sources.

Currently, a chandelier may be made from glass, bronze, brass, nickel, silver, or a combination of materials. It can be made in any shape, size, or color. Decorative elements such as chains, beads, crystals, and pearls can be added. In recent years, the popularity of geometric and sculptural chandeliers has increased. Some are designed to resemble plants or insects, and others are abstract.

In a world that is in love with gold and rococo, it is refreshing to see that chandeliers can still be elegant and understated. We are seeing more fixtures whose metal components are coated in quietly arresting matte white plaster, and that simple shapes — once the darlings of rococo mirror frames and highly ornamental ceiling medallions — are making their way into sophisticated homes. These pieces offer a modern take on the classic wrought iron chandelier, and they’re as chic as they are functional.

Written by Kyle