What you see is NOT what you get!! (Huh?!)

The fixtures you see below are either shown "as found" or having had a few steps of restoration taken already. Over the 90 or so years since most of these chandeliers were made, their finish (usually nickel) has dulled from atmospheric bombardment (smoke, various other pollutants) or the over-zealous hand of Fifi the French maid. In general the question is simply what finish you'd like to see on the metal as it hangs in your home. Brushed nickel works wonderfully on many Art Deco chandeliers, most closely approximating the original nickel finish; chrome for the Art Moderne fixtures. Modern-day nickel plating has "brighteners" in it that the French of the 'twenties hadn't invented.

They weren't perfect at everything!

(To see the most recent additions scroll to the bottom of this page)

(A) With glass rods on its sides, this already rechromed beauty is ready for its next step, which is the addition of a large oval or rectangular flat piece of glass (your choice, but I'd like to see a "racetrack" design which mirrors the basic design); it will rest on the top rim of the bottom part of the fixture and have a sand-blasted design around its perimeter to match that on the bottom glass. Or not! Perhaps you have another (better) idea...??? By the way, this fixture has the distinction of being one of the master lighting designer Petitot's designs. Overall dimensions when complete as fantasized: about 18 long, the glass about 36 by 20, something like that. (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(B) Good luck on finding a finer French Moderne chandelier! Of course beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but this catches my eye, clearly enough. Have I taken anything finer out of France? Hardly, in my humble opinion! So! You want to take it home just as you see it, or redone in chrome? I await your command, Commander. By the way, it's about 25 inches wide and about 28 long, and that glass is on the order of 1/2 inch thick! It's a new replacement, but the finest non-green glass has been employed, to give it that authentic period touch -- taking you back to olden times when plate glass didn't mean green glass! (News Flash: this is in its final stages of restoration, and you're not going to believe your eyes!!) (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(C) This amazing extra-terrestrially-inspired fixture sums up the Modernist look in one glance. Are we on Saturn yet, Dear? The metal will be redone in chrome or brushed nickel... or... your choice??? It hangs about 26 long and is exactly that across with the "shades" in place. (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(D) Here's another striking French Moderne candidate for work for more than a couple of rainy afternoons... but, what else is there to do but get in trouble? I'm a staunch believer in "the Devil makes work for idle hands." Think chrome with these peach glass fins and shades. Can you see it? Nice, huh? It hangs 30 long and is about 29 across. (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(E) US Customs managed to break one of these opalescent shades as they searched my poor container for -- what, who knows? Drugs (I'm known for the occasional ibuprofin)? Stowaways? Dead rats? If it hadn't already been missing one shade when I bought it I'd crown them with it!!! So, now instead of looking for the one shade I'm looking for two. More's the pity! You do know this is by the famed designer Leleu, don't you? It hangs about 28 long and is about 25 wide. It's chromed -- that's original -- but the chrome's not in perfect condition. (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(F) This one hasn't been cleaned up or rewired yet, but... well, any minute now, any minute... It's bronze, crazily heavy, and insanely (since we're on a theme) GORGEOUS. Opalescent shades probably by Petitot, with blues and golds when lit. Mmmmmmm.... (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(G) I'm not sure just how much of the "master's touch" this one really needs... but you be the judge. Which is to say, you can buy it just as you see it or with a new finish, either brushed nickel or bright polished nickel. The shades are attributed to the lauded French lighting designer Petitot (which is to say known to be but not marked) and the fixture itself, Boretti of Lyon. This exquisitive example of Art Deco on the cusp of Art Moderne hangs at 29 1/2 inches and it's about 16 inches across. (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(H) Here's a great example of what the French mean when they say of an object, "dans son jus." Literally, that means "in its juice" -- one way of saying "as found," or "hey, not MY fault!" So, the "juice" in this instance is some gross gold paint that some Sunday decorator glopped onto the metal. Jack's Rescue Service will take this beauty all apart, strip it, replate it in brushed nickel, give it an antique patina, then reassemble it and rewire it. Pant, pant! Then it will be ready pour votre maison! It hangs around 30 inches long as you see it. (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(I) Such special, classic Art Deco designs here! The shades, of course, are signed Degue; their bold floral designs dovetail so well with the exceptional embellishments on the decorative elements of the metalwork. The fixture has its original nickel plating intact, and depending on how you like your antiques I could... well, clean it, wax it, take it all apart and replate it in brushed nickel, or leave it alone! It hangs 34 inches long and is about 23 across. I have another almost identical fixture, with the same Degue shades, which is already replated. You can see it on this page (item "B"). (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(J) Now how many of us have ever seen this extraordinary Degue bowl with its Modernist butterfly motif!!?? NOT MANY, that's how many!!! That's the beauty of the world of French Art Deco -- every time you've reached that blase place of "having seen it all," yawn, you round the next corner and BOOM, there's something to invigorate you anew! This metalwork is by Leleu, and how seamlessly it coordinates with the Degue glass. It hangs at 21 inches and is about 15 across. Once it's restored there will be two sockets and a fresh chrome skin on the metal (and that's now accomplished, wouldn't ya know?). (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(K) This graceful French Art Deco chandelier, signed J. Coduri, Lyon, is made of cast bronze and has its original nickel-silver plating as shown here (which can be redone in polished or brushed nickel, your choice). It measures 24 inches across and as pictured hangs down a total of 47 inches to the bottom of the finial. The shades are signed Muller. (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(M) Whoa! The Beauty Bash rolls on unabated!! This (just in) is just sooo fine in every respect: overall powerhouse design, exquisite craftsmanship and materials, WEIGHT, grace, proportion! Original chrome finish over bronze, in 97% excellent condition! I'm back in lurve...and with a light fixture (Heaven help me!). It (she) hangs about 30 inches and has three amply-sized Hubens shades with exceptional deco motifs aboard. Who wouldn't fall in lurve wit' DAT? (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(N) Yikes, if you're a lover of "traditional" or "classic" Art Deco, how much better can it get than this six-tulipe geometric symphony? The stylized floral decorations on the glass are of the high quality we'd expect of something by Hettier-Vincent; alas, our fixture is unsigned! However, our French experts tell us that the outside shades are without a doubt the work of Robert; and frankly, since the decorations on the bottom glass are sympatico with those on the shades, can't we just say: ALL by Robert? There's not a vestige of nickel-plating to be found, so I presume it was originally finished in brass. I'm not reluctant to suggest a bath in brushed nickel, which will bring it to a new level of glory. Great dimensions, too -- 28 long by about 28 wide: lots of presence! Go ahead, measure your room, then give me that call! (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(O) This flared alabaster bowl (about 13 inches across) with its original cordelier has vivid markings. This alabaster has a special "je ne sais quoi" quality to it; it has the feel more of glass than stone (but it is stone!).

(e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(P) The gay interplay (that's 19th Century "gay") between the design on the shades and the spheres on the chandelier certainly gets my attention!!! But then I'm easy when it comes to beauty! It's about 30 long and 27 across. Fabulous for that right spot in your restaurant, eh, or your ultra-swish NYC loft? (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(Q) Leleu, of course. Spartan Modernism, fine as it gets! The second picture shows this gorgeous creature in its just-short-of-finished stage, only needing wiring. It's that close to being for sale!! About 25 across, 30 long. (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(Qb) And... if you're a Leleu fan (and what self-respecting Modernist isn't?), sink your eye-teeth into this beauty! Once this is replated and fired up, run for cover!!! (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(S) Here your eye beholds a powerful 6-arm Petitot design, outfitted with six rose colored glass shades. The patina is original and in nearly immaculate condition, all that remains to have this up and running is the rewiring. It hangs 29 inches long. (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(T) Minimal (but fetching) metal, four gargantuan Degue geometric roses-in-a-basket shades. Just wait 'til the metal is refurbished! And it's LIT!! Yum! It hangs about 29 long (without the finial, which is another inch), about 22 across. (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(U) Here's another impressively scaled Art Deco fixture with six world-class opalescent shades. This one is 32 inches wide and, having chain, can be hung at whatever length suits your situation. Again, the patina isn't in bad condition, but a re-do would send this powerful piece skyward! (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(V) This could be an Arts and Crafts chandelier, or Art Deco, American or French, or...? I bought it in the States, but we all know that means zip. It's a knockout in any language, however! Measuring about 2 feet across and 22 long as shown, with the obvious possibility of putting in more chain to hang it longer. In the first photo we see it "au naturel," the way I bought it; in the second photo, with the addition of mica sleeves for shades. Does it really need shades? Up to you! (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(W) This fixture belongs in the "unfinished symphonies" category, but that's just because the original glass is missing. I bought it in France thinking that with such special iron-work, it had to be mine! The glass can be replaced with glass of any nature -- frosted, "antiqued," you name it; or, how about mica? Lots of possibilities, you call the decorator shots, ok? It hangs at 37 1/2 inches, and is about 28 across including the candles. A lot to do here... (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

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(X) Just back from the French Wars, this all-bronze corker just leaps off the page with its barely suppressed energy. The original patina is near-perfect. Could this be a Petitot design? And those shades, you're wondering? Could they be signed d'Avesn? COUNT on it!! "Unfinished" because it's yet un-rewired, and it's ripe for the possibility of a new skin, either polished or brushed nickel, maybe even chrome; wouldn't you agree? Up to you! It hangs down about 24 inches, perfect for a shorter ceiling, superb over a dining table. Lots of width, it's about 28 inches across. (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(Y) The Petitot legend lives on, especially when beauties like this Moderne extravaganza pop out of the woodwork! It's got presence, too, with a drop of about 29 inches and a spread of 25! It has its original chrome plating, and will clean up nicely. What a statement this will make in your home!!! (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)