Kinkeldey Chandelier Facet Cut Crystal. Circa 1960/1970

Kinkeldey is a prestigious lighting manufacturer based in Bad Pyrmont, Germany.

The Kinkeldey lighting company won the 1969 lighting award from the International Forum Design Hannover for its modernist twist on the classical antique style crystal chandelier. This type was similar in style to the one to the left with square crystal shades on a chrome frame.

In the 1970`s Kinkeldey designs became more ornate with 24 karat gold plated frames and complex faceted crystal shades.

Kinkeldey`s use of crystals comes as no surprise as the family originate from the Austrian German border, an area which is known for the production of superior crystals.

Crystals originally had been discovered much earlier in 1676 by English businessman George Ravenscroft who made crystal containing lead oxide which made them easier to cut. However it was the Austrians who refined the crystal in the 1800`s and went on to become world leaders for their `strass`. A crystal chandelier is only as good as its crystals and understandably Kinkeldey with their family history in the business use the best.

The refractions cast by a crystal chandelier can greatly depend on the choice of lighting within – too much can make the chandelier so bright that it`s almost blinding, while too little light will not bring out the best of the crystals. Kinkeldey chandeliers are always made up of many lights with small screw light bulbs (E14). This allows many bulbs of low brightness to really maximise the sparkle.