These larger antique lighting fixtures, typically used in commercial buildings, are pretty scarce out there in the salvage & reuse industry. Vintage commercial light fixtures in general are found less frequently than their smaller residential cousins. There are several reasons for this. First, there were simply not as many commercial light fixtures made as residential light fixtures, or another way to say this is that there were not as many commercial buildings as homes built back then. Then, over the years, as the commercial building interiors were remodeled, there was less (read almost none) interest in salvaging anything. Time, budget, deadlines, profit, codes, etc. all worked against taking the time to salvage these beauties. Plus, the sheer size of these old light fixtures make it more difficult to handle, transport, and store them. In our buying travels we occasionally have to pass on some wonderful old vintage fixtures simply due to their size. But when we can, we love to bring them back to the shop and bring them back to life. Like the time I drove 13 horsehair and plaster slag glass fixtures back from Baltimore to Seattle. They were out of an old movie theater and the largest, at 24" in diameter, was my front seat companion for the next 5 days.
Indeed these large vintage fixtures are scarce, but when you can find one, it makes the entire area come alive.
The one pictured above, at 28" across, would beautifully light up any dining room in any home.
Listen to Your Eyes.
http://www.vintagelights.com/
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