Friday, October 19, 2007

The moon is a constantly recurring image in Schonbek crystal chandelier design.

For one thing, many classic crystal chandeliers have a solid crystal sphere at the finial point, introducing a note of serenity amidst the dazzling display of prismatic brilliance. The weightiness and perfect roundness of this luminous finial sphere is suggestive of the full moon.

To me the resemblance becomes stronger still when the finial sphere is made of rock crystal. The fissures and mists inside rock crystal quartz are very like the mysterious shadows on the surface of the moon.

I just saw a movie about that amazing period when the U.S. was sending men to the moon pretty regularly. Having an encounter with another heavenly body was a life-changing experience for the astronauts. Just hearing about it was thrilling.

You may never orbit the moon, but you can have this wondrous symbol of the moon suspended at the finial point of your crystal chandelier.

Our moon is unique in the universe, and so is a moon of rock crystal quartz. I like to picture the cataclysmic events that formed the Earth’s quartz deposits eons ago. If you’re thinking about a rock crystal chandelier, I encourage you to send for the Schonbek DVD on the subject. The DVD starts off with an imaginative portrayal of the formation of Earth using deep space footage. This might be my favorite Schonbek DVD.

Any discussion of the moon and crystal chandeliers must, of course, include Da Vinci™, Schonbek’s perfectly round crystal chandelier. The lunar symbolism is especially compelling with this design. You really have to see it in person to appreciate its mesmerizing luminosity. You can find a retail outlet that carries Da Vinci™ on this website. See Geometrix® dealers.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

When describing crystal chandeliers I often find myself resorting to the vocabulary of music. There are many reasons for this, beyond a writer’s desire for a charming metaphor.

Like music, a crystal chandelier has movement. The play of light amidst the facets of the crystal is unceasing.

At times, if you hold very still, you might almost think that your chandelier is still, but at a microscopic level it never is. And this ineffable shimmering can always be sensed, if not seen, by anyone sensitive to ambiance.

There are forms of dance that involve infinitely slow movement, but the energy and tension you feel, simply watching, create a unique kind of dynamism. A crystal chandelier possesses a similar energy.

Like music, the composition of the various elements of a crystal chandelier must be harmonious. The harmony is achieved by both technical means and an artistic sensibility. I never cease to be amazed at how skillfully Schonbek can combine various crystal types and shapes to such pleasing effect.

A good example is Renaissance with oversized ornaments of rock crystal, colored crystal and classic clear crystal, as well as massive crystal spikes and dainty crystal rosettes. There’s a joyous complexity at work here that reminds me of a baroque concerto.

The comparison between music and a crystal chandelier is so irresistible that Schonbek has named quite a few designs after musical terms. Such as Adagio, a colored crystal chandelier. Music is sometimes said to have color, and this lively composition is suggestive of a colorful melody.

And then there’s Tango. Since tango is both music and dance, it’s a perfect name for a crystal chandelier with the qualities of both.

Diva is a contemporary chandelier named after the performer rather than the music. Certainly there’s that element in common between the world of music and the fashion realm of crystal chandeliers: a dramatic performance is always admired.

Monday, October 15, 2007

Decades ago people used to hire interior decorators. Now they employ interior designers. It’s interesting to contemplate how this change of terminology came about and what it means in relation to the crystal chandelier.

Decorating feels like more of a surface activity and might involve a lot of embellishment. "More is more" would be the watchword here. Whereas design feels like something deeper. The interior designer is interested in the bone structure of the space, not just its surfaces. And probably designers are purists in search of inherent drama, not surface excitement. "Less is more" comes to mind.

Nonetheless, we have the term “redecorating,” which has not been replaced by “redesigning.” There’s great enjoyment to be had in playing with surface beauty. Embellishment will never go out of style, and many interior designers have a great talent for it.

The crystal chandelier satisfies the emotional needs of the decorator and the designer both.

It’s by far the most decorative form of lighting.

At the same time, it’s the aristocrat of lighting with a fascinating history. In the details of its design, your crystal chandelier might allude to the baroque era, the Napoleonic empire, the Czarist court, Castilian or Victorian palaces. When Andrew Schonbek talks to me about the design of a Schonbek crystal chandelier, he always points out the design influences.

With a Schonbek chandelier, several centuries and culture centers may nourish the ultimate design. Just as poets indulge in poetic allusions, Schonbek indulges in stylistic allusions. The depth that an interior designer looks for in her or his materials is always there, in the case of an original Schonbek.