Sorry to those of you who couldn’t see this post this morning! I had some technical issues which are now resolved! Thanks to those of you who gave me a heads up! 😉
A few weeks ago I went on a whim, to a resale shop about 30 miles from my house to peruse their furniture supply. I had been there a few times and it was a Saturday (the only day they are open) and I had a couple hours to kill since my son was at a birthday party. This resale shop is in a warehouse type building/barn and there isn’t a lot of tidy organization going on. You kinda have to look, and look again, and sometimes look again before you find the cool stuff.
I get overwhelmed at antique malls. There is just TOO MUCH to look at and there are so many things that catch my eye, and they are SO BIG. That and I rarely get to go out without my kids and antique mall shopping with kids = no bueno. So this little resale shop is great for me because it’s usually pretty empty and so far I haven’t had to spend too much time there with the littles toddling along. Good story, right?
ANYHOW. After passing by this old chandelier about 3 times, I couldn’t take my eyes off of it. It was old, dirty, but had great curves and I could see some serious potential. Only problem was I couldn’t see the price anywhere. I finally got around to asking the lady as I was checking out and she said $65. I don’t pay that price for hardly anything (home decor related), except for dressers, and I wasn’t confident after putting money into it to get it looking proper, I could convince Bruno (my other half) it would be worth it. So I left the store sans chandelier (but found a couple of lovely ceramic vases and 2 wooden barn pulleys).
Later that night I started doing a little research and found these things to be quite pricey! Then I got nervous that someone else already bought it! Good thing they were only open on Saturdays! So the next Saturday, I woke up early and was the first customer in the door. I walked right back to where it sat, picked it up, and bought it. It was in a rather sorry state, I must say:
On my way home, I stopped by a small antique store (that I love, the guy knows me by name now, which is always good! :)) and bought about 20 loose crystals that he had a box of, for $1.50 a piece. They were almost identical and the same size and shape that i needed. It was fate I tell you!
So I got home and started working on cleaning each individual crystal. They had some nasty, sticky grime on them. I used regular windex, since they were glass, and it came off with no major strength exerted! 😀
Upon removing each one and cleaning them, I also found out I was missing 4 small crystals (the larger ones hang out on the branches, and the smaller ones are closer to the center). I couldn’t find a shop on Etsy that was willing to sell just 4 and I didn’t want to buy a ton extra. So I just left off 1 on the inner candles for now (you can barely notice).
I then was able to examine a little closer the details of this chandelier. One of the candle covers was missing (no biggie, I thought, because they don’t look expensive) and I found out on the underside of the canopy, the stamp, “Made in Spain”! Score! I was giddy over that discovery! I also saw it had some sticker of approval for the electrical work or something like that. Which made me worry for a minute…
…that maybe this was all too good to be true and the lights no longer worked or something like that. So we got to installing it over a dining table right away.
Turns out, it works great, I hadn’t need to fear. Some of the bulbs were broken, so we had to buy new bulbs before we actually tested it, and word to the wise, get the frosted bulbs for chandeliers because this is SO bright! haha, but I like the look of the clear glass, so I haven’t switched them out yet.
I also went to Lowe’s and bought a pair of new candle covers that were already white. They were slightly on the transparent side, so after I cut a couple inches off of one with a hacksaw (I was only missing one), I took all them off and outside to spray paint them pure white. Much less distracting without that strange bronze/brown faux candle wax drip that was on all the originals.
I really, truly changes the look of the dining room. This may sound silly, but because I have a nicer dining set now, and a pretty chandelier, I actually spend a little more time making sure the table is always clean (almost always) and the floor is swept more often, and the room is looking tidy.
So here’s proof that pretty things can make you love your home a little more, which can in turn make you try a little harder to be a little better.
What a gorgeous chandelier! Your paint and crystals and cleaning made a big difference. I agree that having nice things encourages you to keep it clean and nice so you can enjoy them. Mary Beth
Beautiful chandelier! x
I think I had the same chandelier back in the 70s. Wish I had it now……
It looks great and I know what you mean about the room being kept up better. Amazing how something really nice affects us…..Well done.
It looks great! I’m working on a similar brass and crystal chandelier right now and am wondering – what did you use to clean the metal? It has a beautiful golden patina.
I actually didn’t really clean the metal with anything! I dusted it with a wet rag and used the same thing for each crystal. THAT is what was most time consuming!
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So glad I saw your site. I share your excitement. I have been a home housekeeper for 20+years and have always admired the chandlers I’ve seen and cleaned. Such a pain to clean but so rewarding when they sparkle. One of my clients moved into an old home and replaced a chandler exactly like your’s. It has the made in spain and the union sticker. The only difference is this one has a chain of crystals from arm to arm along with a tear drop crystal on the bottom outside holes and same crystal chain and tear drop connecting the arms on the bottom center holes. It is covered with drywall dust and she gave it to me.I can’t wait to get it cleaned and hung. Do you have any idea of the value? Would never sell it just curious.
This is gorgeous!! I actually bought the baby sister to this same chandelier. It sadly didn’t work. I do have the crystals from it that I have made into Christmas Ornaments. I’m sure I could spare some if you need them! Love your Blog!!!
Hi, do you have the little crystal ball that hangs down in the middle of the chandelier? I just bought the same chandelier and do need a few crystals. Let me know if you are interested in selling a few. Thx
You can buy the crystals on line.
I have one in my dining room. I painted it 20 years ago in a bright Gold – it was beautiful. Now I plan to take it down and spray it white and put in the corner of my bedroom. Super romantic.
I have the exact same chandelier and plan to sell it. Would anyone know it’s worth?
Hi! I have this same chandelier in my 70s home. I’m trying to decide what color shades to buy. A black or natural/grassy look. Has anyone done either and how do they look? The bare bulbs are too glaring for me
Try using the frosted glass ones in the lowest wattage you can get. Hope this helps
Hello I also found a chandelier like yours, at a estate sale. First all was for sale, but then there was stuff the wife did not know if it was for sale. They had another sale, I asked. Still not sure, left my phone number. They had been working on the house making changes. Had another sale, I went. Seen the husband, he said you want the chandelier. I’m like she wants to sell it? He is like come with me. We went to church, we come home. It was all over the floor. So this is what is left. Broken I bought it, took 2 years to find the parts. Had a man rewire it. Put it up and it is in its beauty hanging in my foyor. I walk by it every day, just love to look at it. I have no crystals on it, but I don’t mind it. It is still beautiful like that. Thank you for reading this true story,cindy
Last year while doing my weekly picking in Lake Geneva I found that very same light along with a 5 light one. Noting at all wrong with either of them. I’m happy I was able to save them from being thrown out. It is amazing what people will toss in the trash
Your crystal chandelier is very beautiful! I love it.