Have you purchased an antique or vintage chandelier and it is in need of repair or updates? You may want to become familiar with the different parts of chandeliers and what is available, parts-wise.
Arms: Also called branches, these are the pieces of the chandelier that extend out of the body and hold either candles or bulbs. Chandelier arms are available in different styles, such as fluted or S-shaped and also come in a variety of different metals, which can be unfinished or finished/painted.
Bobeche: Also called a candle collar/cup, these are small cups that were originally used to catch the dripping wax of the candles. Placed between the candle bottom and the arm of the chandelier, they are now used as an added decorative item or from which to hang crystal prisms.
Bottom Ball: A decorative item that is hung at the very bottom of the chandelier. Common materials used for these are metal, glass, and stone.
Bottom Bowl: Not to be confused with a bottom ball. They are a major component of the chandeliers that have them. These are part of the center structure and typically the chandelier arms, or branches, are attached to this piece.
Crystals: Crystals are used on many chandeliers. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Prices vary widely. Prisms and spears can be hung from the arms of a chandelier or beaded chains of much smaller crystals can be draped over and around the fixture. Crystals are used to add brilliance and sparkle to a chandelier.
Finials: Finials adorn the top of a chandelier, just like they do regular lamps. Not as noticeable as crystal arm prisms or bead chains, they add a nice finishing touch to the top of your fixture.
Pendalogue: Pendalogues are most often associated with crystal prisms. They are also decorative items that are hung from the arms of the chandelier. Most pendalogues are made from glass crystal; however, they are also made from metal.
Reverse Dish: This piece hangs between the bottom bowl and bottom ball on a chandelier. They look like an shallow, upside down bowl. They can be used alone as a decorative piece or you can find them with holes in the edges, from which you can hang crystals.
These are just a few of the components or parts of a chandelier. Chandelier lighting may have just a few, or all, of these pieces. When replacing or restoring a fixture, you can most often add these items easily on your own.
