There’s a new addition in our living room! French sconces and a French chandelier!
A few weeks ago I received a much anticipated shipment from one of my french sellers. I had waited several weeks for it to arrive, and couldn’t wait to get the boxes open when they were delivered.
Thankfully, nothing was damaged during their long journey across the ocean.
Inside the boxes were a pair of gorgeous French wall sconces and a very old french chandelier.
These have been on my antique “wish list” for a long time, and I was so excited when my french picker contacted me with pictures of these beauties, asking me if this was what I had been looking for.
Each sconce has twelve arms, and is highlighted with twelve gorgeous milk glass lilies, as well as bronze leaves.
They are quite large and I wasn’t completely sure where I wanted to hang them, but finally decided to hang them in the family room, one on each side of the french style mirror.
They may not stay there, but for now I enjoy seeing them each day in this often used room.
They would also work in the master bedroom, the foyer, or in the formal living room, when it’s finished with it’s makeover.
Each sconce holds several tapered candles, as well as space along the bottom to hold smaller tea candles.
My french seller told me that these had once graced a church sanctuary, which makes them even more special to me.
The other piece that I’ve been hoping to find is an old french chandelier with bronze and milk glass flowers, so I was excited find this in one of the boxes!
It’s very timeworn, and shows much of it’s century old age, which is fine with me, because it just adds to it’s story and history. I’ve always been drawn to imperfections, so I fell in love with it immediately.
{Hubby tells me all the time that he is soooo glad that I love old, timeworn things….hmmm…I wonder if he was talking about himself….}
The six arm chandelier is made of bronze flowers and leaves, and it’s also embellished with the white milk glass lilies. There’s a few missing so I will have to try and hunt down a couple more of these beautiful glass flowers and add to it.
The wiring is really old and needs replacing, as well as all of the sockets, and there appears to be an old repair at the top.
This chandelier most likely held candles originally during the 1800’s, but wired for electricity in the 1920’s.
I decided that I really didn’t want it wired into a ceiling, and would like to use it as a display piece, being able to move it from place to place. I thought how pretty it would be to remove the old wiring and bulb sockets and turn it into a candelabra chandelier, holding creamy white tapered candles. So gutted all of the old wiring and sockets.
Now I can hang it anywhere, and move it around as often as I want.
I will probably replace the real candles with Luminara tapered flickering candles to give it a romantic feel without the hazard of lighting real candles.
I have a feeling it will be hung in the formal living room when it’s finished, but we will see!
Now I can mark these two things off of my “antique wish list”!
Cheers,
Cindy
Wow, Cindy, those are gorgeous! What a find! Love your redo of the chandelier!
Those are so beautiful! What a treasure! I have some too – but they are not for the wall! I believe most of them came from churches because they have the Easter lily on them with all of its symbolism.
Thank you Angelina! I’ve had some of the tabletop candelabras several times, and each time I sold them in my shop, always regretting it afterward. I had only seen the sconces one time in a magazine and thought if I ever found any, I would never let them go! Yes, from what I can find in my research, they originated from French churches. Very special pieces. Thanks for commenting!
~Cindy~
Absolutely beautiful pieces, they are lucky to be in your lovely home !! I wish I knew a picker in England, France, or heck even our New England states , hehe 🙂
Prayers continue for your sister and family . Tomorrow would have been my sister and her husband’s 43rd wedding anniversary,he is trying to carry on with life with time his broken heart will heal.
Hugs,
Paula
IN.
Thank you, Paula, for your wonderful prayers and thoughts. It’s so very heartbreaking to watch this journey. We need God’s grace every day to get through them. My sweet brother in law is taking such good care of my sister during this time, and will be totally lost without her. Sending prayers for your brother in law and healing of his heart. {{Hugs}}
Hi Cindy! I couldn’t wait to read this post when I saw it was about French sconces. They’re so hard to find in the US and when you do, they’re usually quite expensive. Your treasures are so unusual and I love how you’re using them. Enjoy! Hugs, Pat
Thank you, Pat! Yes, they are hard to find in the U.S., and the prices are very high when they are found.
Oh, my gosh, it doesn’t matter where you put them, they are just elegant…..I just love your blog..
Pat, you are so sweet, thank you so much for following along!
Stunning sconces and that chandy is drool worthy!!! Enjoy them both 🙂
Thank you so much, Susan!
So excited that you received these ahead of finishing the formal living room. Now you can consider the perfect home for them. Pulling the old wiring was a great idea.
Thank you, Elizabeth! I’m not sure where the chandy will go in the living room, but I feel certain that’s where it belongs!
It must have been as exciting as Christmas morning to open those boxes !! Very, very pretty and unique.
Karen, it was like Christmas morning! I think I held my breath as I opened them, I was so worried that they would be damaged. Thanks for commenting!
Oh wow Cindy the sconces are to die for gorgeous, I can hardly wait to see your finish formal living room, I can only imagine how beautiful it will turn out with that gorgeous candle Chaney hanging out in your formal living room….such beautiful additions to your gorgeous home…..
Smiles~~
Mari
Thank you sweet Mari! I appreciate your support so much!
You have done it again, Cindy! All gorgeous!! What is your gray wall color – I love it.
Thank you, Kay! The wall color is Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray!
Cindy,
I hace been an interior designer for over 45 years. I love your blog and your design sensibility. Your home is turning out beautifully. So please forgive me for butting in. I love your new sconces, but they are way too high on the wall. They should be lowered by at least 8 inches unless you are planning to put a pair of medium sized pictures under them. Lower the sconces so the bottom of the sconce is about 8 inches above the bottom of the mirror. Then they will look perfect. When hanging sconces you have to include the height of the candles in the total size of the sconce.
It is a common mistake.
Hi Linda, thank you so much for your suggestion! Actually, we do have a couple of antique paintings coming in, that we had planned on hanging underneath the sconces. However, if the paintings don’t work out for some reason, we will definitely lower the sconces.
0h my, this brings back bad memories….I had a pair of French sconces with thick marble bases about 8 yrs. ago and sold them to a dealer. I did not like them or know what they were. How I regret because I LOVE them now! I have found just one recently but still looking for a pr. I love yours and I have never seen a chandelier in them. I love your taste in decor! Oh, this dealer still has them in his shop but will not sell…I have tried to buy them for more than he paid me! Is this not funny???? I can send you a picture if you like?
Oh my goodness, Nancy, if you only knew how many times I’ve sold something and then later on regretted it! I would love to see a picture of those sconces!
Oh my Cindy..the sconces and chandelier are gorgeous!….the wait was so well worth it…how wonderful that you have such a great resource in France. Those items are truly remarkable treasure to enjoy each day!
Thank you Shirley!
Swooning over here!!
Oh Cindy,they are just beautiful. And the history behind them….. I can hardy wait for your living room reveal. ☺
Happy midweek.
Thanks Gee!
Absolutely gorgeous – Love them for me!
Thank you so much Sandra!
Beautiful, Cindy!! Nice additions to your lovely home!! I’ll be in France for 3 weeks starting Sunday and will keep my eyes open for those white flowers for you.
Au revoir!!
Celia
Have a fabulous trip Celia!!
Thanks Cindy! Very excited!! How many do you need just in case I luck out in coming across them as I do plan to get to any flea markets/brocantes that we come across:) You never know!
Celia, I could use 1-3….if you find any, please let me know!!
Oh my goodness…those milk glass flowers!! The chandelier would be beautiful hung outside on a summer evening.
That’s a great idea, Julie!
Absolutely love your new acquisitions Cindy ! Stunning ! I have 2 French or Italian tole Chanda’s I bought from eBay before they were all the rage. I need to dig them out and either retire or convert back to candle holders. Also, I’m for the first time noticing the French buffet in blue. Have you posted about that one ? Can’t believe I’ve missed it all this time. Cheers 🙂
Sorry for the auto correct typos 🙁
Thank you Rhonda! You definitely need to dig those chandy’s out and use them in new ways! Here’s the link to the post on the French buffet: https://wp.me/p5Xug9-SF
I love your new treasures! One can never have too many chandeliers! Also sending prayers for your sister and family.
Thank you Dell, we need all of the prayers we can get. This journey is such a difficult one for my sister, as well as everyone that loves her.
Wow, Cindy what beautiful new treasures! Nice to be able to use them room to room.
Thanks Kim!