With their gorgeous nature-inspired designs and retro style, tole chandeliers make the ideal centerpiece for your kitchen, home office, bedroom, or pretty much anywhere else you need to shed some light and add some vintage charm.
It's easy to see why tole light fixtures captivate decorators. They were super popular in the late 19th century through the mid-20th century, and they're made of metal with leaves, flowers, and sometimes even fruit. The really cool thing is that they're hand-painted, so each one is unique. Plus, they're fairly easy to find in antique stores and flea markets, especially if you know what you're looking for.
How to Identify an Antique Tole Chandelier
Because vintage floral light fixtures are having a moment in the decorating world, many companies make vintage-style pieces that aren't actually old at all. These new reproductions aren't designed to trick buyers, but they can be a little confusing when you see them in shops. These are some ways to tell whether you have a real, vintage tole light fixture on your hands or a modern reproduction.
Look at the Quality of the Painting
Antique and vintage tole fixtures were painted by hand, and they show that. If the paint is kind of slopped onto the flowers or the flower color bleeds onto the leaves (or vice versa), it's probably not a vintage piece. Although there's plenty of variation in quality in older pieces, these hand-painted beauties usually show good workmanship.
Expect to See Patina
When it comes to antiques and vintage pieces, patina is important. It's the normal wear that happens with time, and you won't see it in modern reproductions. Although you might find a tole chandelier with the paint in perfect condition, it's not common. Expect to see some chipping of the paint, some fading, and even some rust. Many collectors feel this adds to the charm.
Check the Wiring
A modern chandelier has modern wiring that's easy to attach to your ceiling or even plug into a wall outlet. A vintage chandelier, on the other hand, usually has older wiring. Many old light fixtures have fabric-covered wire or no grounding wire.
If you plan to use a tole chandelier that has old wiring, you'll need to have it rewired professionally. Many lamp repair shops will do this for a fee, usually around $30 and up, depending on the complexity of the wiring.
Watch for Plastic Parts
Although some forms of plastic have been around for a century, they weren't commonly used in tole light fixtures until recent decades. If you see a fixture with significant plastic parts, it's probably not a vintage piece.
Tole Chandelier Styles You'll Love
Although most tole chandeliers are made of metal, painted by hand, and inspired by nature, there's actually quite a lot of style variation among them. The perfect one for your space might depend on where you'll use it and the colors and motifs used in the decoration.
Tole Light Fixtures With Colorful Flowers
The classic tole chandelier has colorfully painted flowers that mimic real blooms. You'll see all kinds of flowers - cheerful daisies, elegant lilies, bold irises, classic roses, you name it. Sizes range from small fixtures that can illuminate a powder room to huge chandeliers for a large dining room or bedroom.
Some tole fixtures have porcelain or china roses instead of metal flowers. The rest of the chandelier may be metal, but the delicate flowers are sculpted by hand. These fixtures are often more valuable.
Gilt Tole Chandeliers
The Hollywood Regency style of decorating in the mid-20th century saw an interesting variation on the classic floral chandelier. These pieces are often entirely painted in gold or covered in gold leaf. This monochromatic and super glitzy look is perfect for almost any room.
Tole Fruit Light Fixtures
One of the most popular places to use a tole chandelier in your decorating is in the kitchen or dining room. This is where fruit chandeliers really shine (pun intended). Some tole designs have strawberries, lemons, cherries, and all kinds of other fruits paired with greenery.
Tole Chandelier Values and Factors
A modern reproduction of a tole chandelier runs about $200 to $300, but an actual vintage piece has a lot more variation in value. Some sell for under $200, but others can be worth several hundred or even thousands of dollars. These are the major factors that affect value:
- Beauty - Because a chandelier is designed for decoration, the prettiest examples are usually worth more. For instance, a gorgeous vintage Italian tole chandelier with delicate blue roses and green foliage sold for just under $700 despite a few condition issues.
- Workmanship - A piece that's finely crafted is more valuable than one that has less detail and time put into it. Porcelain flowers can add to the value because of the work needed to make them. An Italian gilt chandelier with porcelain zinnias sold for about $600.
- Condition - A very old chandelier can have some condition issues without it affecting value a lot, but a vintage one should be in good shape to bring top dollar. This otherwise lovely vintage daisy chandelier was missing some parts and had chips and paint loss. It sold for about $150.
If you're shopping for a chandelier and wondering if the price is fair, compare it to similar ones that have sold recently. Don't compare to the for-sale prices sellers are asking, since they can ask more than the piece is worth.
Transform a Room With a Hand-Painted Chandelier
Vintage and antique tole chandeliers are fun to shop for, especially because they come in so many different styles and colors. You can transform a room with a hand-painted centerpiece like this, so take your time to find the perfect one.
