What you see is NOT what you get!! The fixtures you see below are either shown "as found" or having had a few steps of restoration taken already. In general the question is merely one of what finish you would like to see on the metal. Brushed nickel works wonderfully on many Art Deco chandeliers, most closely approximating the original nickel finish; chrome for the Moderne fixtures. Why? Because over the 80 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. Also consider the fact that a modern-day nickel plating has "brighteners" in it that the French of the 'twenties hadn't invented. They weren't perfect at everything.    (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-shaped flat piece of glass which will rest on the top rim of the bottom part of the fixture. It will have a sand-blasted design around its perimeter to match that on the bottom glass. Perhaps you have another (better) idea...??? Don't dismay about those holes in the ends, either, I've got the original glass rosettes to fill them. By the way, this has been labeled a Petitot design by one knowledgeable party, and I think that assessment is spot-on. Overall dimensions when complete as fantasized: about 18 long, the glass about 36 by 20, something like that. With the large oval glass piece in place, $4100. (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! 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-cast glass has been employed, to give it that authentic period touch. Sure, I'll sell it just as you see it, for $3200. Full restoration, add another $700. (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. This gem can be yours just as you see it for $2700. Add $1000 for disassembly, plating, re-assembly and wiring. (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. Nice, huh? It hangs 30 long and is about 29 across. $2900 as you see it, $3900 replated. (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? 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 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. $2300 just as you see it. (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(F) A positively breathtaking bowl (signed) by none other than Pierre d'Avesn, master French glass designer. It's larger than most lighting bowls, with a diameter of about 16 inches. I can increase the length of the metal rods to make it hang the perfect length for your situation. The bowl is slightly out of round, presumably the result of its being moved before it had entirely annealed. As shown it hangs about 20 inches. $2900 for this masterpiece. (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. $3300 as you see it. (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(H) I love these massively heavy Degue bowls with their overblown floral designs! This one has its original wrought iron cage and hanging device. I think a little nickel plating is in order, don't you agree? It's about 32 long and 16 across. It can be used as a flush-mount for a low ceiling. $3500. (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(I) Don't quote me, but I'm fairly sure this lion of design and heft (bronze with silver plate) is the work of Boretti of Lyon, a well-known and highly respected Lyonnaise designer and fabricator of lighting during the Art Deco period. It measures 29 long and is about 21 across. $2400 as it is. (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(J) Pure French kitsch? Let's just say it's not quite as "serious" as most French lighting! With Czechosolvakian-style shades, mottled and pyramiding, and a matching center ball, the egrets and mounting are chromed brass. It hangs 35 inches long, and the diameter is about 28 inches. This particular fixture is sold, but I've just started restoration work on a four-egret model with similar (but even nicer) glass! The four-egret fixture will be in the $3400 range all cherried out. (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(K) I love the simplicity of the glass tubes and the bold metalwork on this French Moderne fixture. It's about 21 inches long, and is a candidate for a large piece of sandblasted glass on top of the piece which holds the tubes, which could be, for instance, 34 x 20. It's marked "Paris" inside, cast into the metal (just in case you were wondering about its pedigree). Well, lookie-here! Just shot from Jack's Restoration Cannon, this Moderne marvel is about 15 inches wide, 6 1/2 across, and it hangs around 21 inches long. Now freshly replated in polished nickel, and outfitted with two bulbs, it just dazzles the eye. Yes, those are glass tubes about 1/4 diameter which make up the "body." Wow. $3100 restored. (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(L) It's been hard to find such large fixtures of late. This one has a lyrical quality to it. It's about 26 across, and hangs down about 28 inches. The metal (solid brass) has its original chrome plating and it's in near-perfect condition. Only $2800 wired and ready to hang. (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(M) Could this be the finest pressed glass bowl I've ever taken out of France? Could it be signed Hettier-Vincent, one of the most sophistocated designers and fabricators of the time? It's about 16 across, variable height as I can cut the rods. So sorry, the Hettier-Vincent is SOLD!! David and Julia are enjoying it! Ah, but things being as they are, I've located another one in France! So don't dismay...it's on the way! And here it is!! Tough to see in this photo, but there's a hint of amber color to the shade. $2300 for this special piece. (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(N) A "decorator's delight," sans doute. It hangs about 30 inches long. It takes one little decorative bulb which hangs out of the spout on the right. You'll still need a flashlight to find your way around the room where this one will hang! But don't despair, you'll be so "illuminated" by its artful presence that you'll seem to quite effortlessly find your way... since taking this photo I've cleaned it up, waxed it, and rewired it (a Herculean effort, I might add). In other words, it's ready to hang in YOUR home! Juanita strolled into my booth at the Hillsborough Show and said: "That's ready to hang in MY home!! SOLD!!

(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!). $2100. (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(P) The gay (that's 19th Century "gay") interplay between the design on the shades and the spheres on the chandelier certainly gets my attention!!! It's about 30 long and 27 across. Fabulous for that right spot in your restaurant, eh? $3200. (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(Q) Leleu, of course. Spartan Modernism, fine as it gets! About 25 across, 30 long. $3900 as you see, but rewired. (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(R) Old World Quality stares us crass Americans (yes, I speak only for myself) in the face once again! The one's "got it all," and it hangs long, about 35 inches. In brushed or bright nickel this is going to RULE!!! And RULE it will, in Michelle's kitchen!! SOLD!!!!

(S) This theme on an upside-down wedding cake is the product of the Lorrain company, a spin-off of Daum which was intended to cater to France's version of "the masses," and which was headed up by none other than Pierre D'Avesn. It hangs about 26 inches long, and it's about a foot wide. $2800 just like you see it. (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(T) This significantly scaled six-light French Art Deco fixture is 32 inches across with these opalescent shades on it; it's 28 long. There's a geometrically embellished bottom plate which echoes the superb motifs on the canopy. In the following picture it's shown with six different shades with a mottled gray/white color. The patina isn't bad on the metal (it's the original nickel finish), but just think how splendid it will be in a freshly applied polished or brushed nickel! Sorry, all gone!!! SOLD!! Paul and Grant scooped this up for their just-refurbished SF pad! However, they took it with different shades, so you can still plop these on the fixture below!

(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! $3400. (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! $2300 as you see it. (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..... $2200 as it is.. (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(X) A brilliantly designed fixture by a top name, Hettier & Vincent. Aren't the shades incredible? Shown here in its original gold/bronze patina, which I could easily (ha-ha) have redone in brushed nickel or polished nickel. Whereas it hums now, it would sing then! It hangs 23 inches long as shown, and all the shadews are signed. $3300 as you see it, $3900 replated and rewired. (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(Y) Moderne glass tube chandeliers aren't exactly found under every woodpile... and this is only the second or third that I've had in lo these many years of obsessively collecting. It hangs about 30 inches long. The chrome's in so-so condition, but once I've cleaned it up I daresay it will be entirely presentable. $1900 if you do the work. (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(Z) A six-arm cast bronze or brass masterpiece with its original verdigris and gold patina. It hangs about 25 inches long, and it's about 19 across. This I could live with, how about you? I've got more appropriate shades for this, so let's wait until I get another photo of it with them installed. (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(A1) 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!!! $4700 all cleaned up and with American sockets. (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

(B1) And last, but certainly not least, an exquisite Art Nouveau painted glass and gilt-bronze chandelier just acquired in La Belle France. Now we recall why they're with the "Oooo-la-la" all the time!!! Can't you just feel those talons clinging onto your... neck? $1400, as the center piece has a small crack in it, though mostly under one talon. (e-mail Jack to start the conversation)

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