New Energy Sources for Chandeliers

During the 19th century oil light and around 1850 gaslight began to prevail. Work was once again carried out with bowls and cut hollow bodies in chandeliers which served to spread the gas flame. During this period chandeliers moved away from being a purely aristocratic attribute and could also be found in upper middle class salons and public “etablissements”. After Edison invented the electric light bulb in 1879 this innovation was soon used in the design of chandeliers. Since Kaiser Franz Josef had always refused to light the Hofburg with gas because of the fire risk, the electric chandelier now found all the more echo. The new electric chandeliers were already introduced into the Vienna Redoutensäle in 1883 and celebrated all over the world. The electric chandelier found still wider acceptance when the clumsy lamp sockets were replaced by delicate sockets and artificial candles could also be integrated into the chandelier. They enabled a return to the old models but allowed them to be fed with a new energy form.