Pair of Handsome Small Mid-Century Italian Cage Chandeliers - 31½"

Dating from the mid-20th century (circa 1930s–1950s), this charming pair of four-light cage chandeliers from Genoa, Italy, is wrought in iron with a mellow gilt and darkened patina, adorned with half-crystal prisms. Each frame rises in graceful scrollwork with foliate drip pans, white candle sleeves, and a small leafy corona, all suspended with beaded chains and an assortment of faceted drops in pear, icicle, and pendeloque forms. The half-crystal, with its lower lead content, scatters a cool, lively sparkle against the warm metal. Condition is overall good and attractively timeworn, with oxidation, light surface wear, and rubbing to the gilding; minor losses and tiny nicks to the prisms add to the chandeliers’ antique charm.

These chandeliers follow the Genovese tradition of light, scroll-framed iron fixtures enriched with crystals, a regional interpretation that evolved from 18th-century Italian taste for elegant yet less formal alternatives to heavy bronze. By the mid 20th century, workshops in Liguria continued the look in smaller scales suited to town apartments and coastal villas, often using demi crystal for brilliance without the weight of full lead crystal. The restrained metalwork, foliate bobeches, and cascading drops echo earlier baroque and rococo rhythms while aligning with modern preferences for luminosity and ease.

Charming and well-proportioned, this matched pair offers versatile placement options. They can be hung over a dining table, at staggered heights for added visual interest, or used to flank a mirror or illuminate the ends of a hallway. Their modest scale makes them equally suitable for a powder room, dressing area, or bedroom.