Chandelier

A chandelier (/ˌʃændəˈlɪər/) is an ornamental lighting device, typically with spreading branched supports for multiple lights, designed to be hung from the ceiling. Chandeliers are often ornate, and they were originally designed to hold candles, but now incandescent light bulbs as well as fluorescent lamps and LEDs are commonly used.

A wide variety of materials ranging from wood and earthenware to silver and gold can be used to make chandeliers. Brass is one of the most popular materials, but glass is most commonly associated with chandeliers. Classic glass and crystal chandeliers have arrays of hanging "crystal" prisms to illuminate a room with refracted light. Chandeliers may illuminate a room with direct light from the lights or they may be shaded. The design of contemporary chandeliers may be more minimalist, but chandeliers produced nowadays can span a wide variety of styles, from the modern to the traditional or a combination of both.

Although chandeliers have been called candelabras, chandeliers can be distinguished from candelabras which are designed to stand on tables or the floor, while chandeliers are hung from the ceiling. They are also distinct from pendant lights, as they usually consist of multiple lamps and hang in branched frames, whereas pendant lights hang from a single cord and only contain one or two lamps with few decorative elements. Large chandeliers are typically installed in the grand rooms of buildings including halls and lobbies, or in religious buildings such as churches, synagogues or mosques. In a domestic setting, they may be installed in large hallways and staircases, living rooms, lounges, and dining rooms, often as focus of the room. Small chandeliers can also be installed in smaller spaces such as bedrooms or small living spaces.