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Log Cabin Lighting – Rustic Chandeliers

ByCarla

Log Cabin Lighting – Rustic Chandeliers

You really don’t have to follow any rules when decorating a log cabin.

“Until the 1930s, most  retreats in the Rocky  Mountains were decorated with either mission or Victorian furnishings.”
Rustic Traditions by Ralph R. Kylloe

Just as now, people followed their taste. Often lighting was designed by the architect to fit the proportions and scale of each room.

Monte Carlo 52
Monte Carlo 52″ Great Lodge Rustic Ceiling Fan with the look of rough hewn pine logs with pine cone accents and Lodge Pine Blades

Thomas Canada Molesworth created oversized furniture from burled pine poles, hides, horn and natural wood with Indian and western motifs.  He created a distinctly Western style also called Cowboy Style. Today many companies make Western and Cowboy Style Lighting.

This chandelier from the Peak Antler Company provides a beautiful amber glow through the mica tiers while retaining a rustic elegance feel of an antler chandelier. Medium and small elk antler circle the center with tall patina coated copper sleeves for the 9 candles. This chandelier is custom built by the artist in Colorado USA.
This chandelier from the Peak Antler Company provides a beautiful amber glow through the mica tiers while retaining a rustic elegance feel of an antler chandelier. Medium and small elk antler circle the center with tall patina coated copper sleeves for the 9 candles. This chandelier is custom built by the artist in Colorado USA.
 
This chandelier provides a beautiful amber glow through the mica tiers while retaining a rustic elegance feel of an antler chandelier. Medium and small elk antler circle the center with tall patina coated copper sleeves for the 9 candles. This chandelier is custom built by the artist in Colorado USA.

Antler Chandeliers

Antler Chandeliers are made from a variety of natural antlers. They have been used for centuries. Switzerland, Scotland, Austria and the Black Forest region were known for antler chandeliers before the New World was even discovered.

Before electricity, candle holders were placed on the antlers. Now electric sockets are used instead with wires either run outside the antler or the antler is drilled to allow the wire to be put inside.

Don’t worry. Antlers are naturally shed.  Antlers are bone, but are shed and regrown each year in most species. In the United States deer, elk, and moose shed their antlers. Male elk have large antlers which are shed each year.

Monte Carlo GL6CHWI Great Lodge Antler Chandelier
Monte Carlo GL6CHWI Great Lodge Antler Chandelier is cast of resin to look like natural wood and antler and pine cones.

Artificial antler is often less expensive and can look like the real thing.

Hubbardton Forge New Town Wrought-Iron Chandelier hand-forged in Vermont, USA using the same techniques blacksmiths have used for centuries. The seeded glass hurricane shades are reminiscent of candle holders and oil lanterns before electricity.
Hubbardton Forge New Town Wrought-Iron Chandelier hand-forged in Vermont, USA using the same techniques blacksmiths have used for centuries. The seeded glass hurricane shades are reminiscent of candle holders and oil lanterns before electricity.
This Rustic Chandelier from Kalco has the feel of early hand-forged lighting. The leather wrapped shades are reminiscent of Western Themed and Cowboy Style lighting.
This Rustic Chandelier from Kalco has the feel of early hand-forged lighting. The leather wrapped shades are reminiscent of Western Themed and Cowboy Style lighting.

Rustic Metal Chandeliers

Forged metal chandeliers were common in the Adirondacks. By the mid-1900s blacksmiths were adept at fashioning lighting. Sometimes architects provided the plans. Some were designed by the craftsman and others came from European pattern books available at the time.

Avalanche Ranch M41540 Smokey Mountain 5-Light Spruce Pine Cone Chandelier shown with amber mica diffusers
Avalanche Ranch M41540 Smokey Mountain 5-Light Spruce Pine Cone Chandelier shown with amber mica diffusers

Mica Diffusers

Mica is a natural stone that cleaves nearly perfectly into sheets. Thin transparent sheets of mica may also be called isinglass. It is very thin, transparent and flexible.

At one time, mica was quite rare and expensive. Then, in the early 19th century, large reserves were found in New England, Africa and South America. There are old mica mines all over Western North Carolina where I live. As of 2005, the US was the second highest producer of mica (after China).  A lot of mica is also mined in Canada. The sheet mica used in lighting is much less common than the little flakes and scrap.

Coming Soon: Natural Wood, Natural Stone and Arts and Crafts Lighting

More Information on Rustic Lighting


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