One possible forerunner of the chandelier was the polycandelon. This hanging light source used several candles set in holders or dishes rather than one large light source such as a fireplace. These holders or dishes were often set in bronze or iron frames.

The word chandelle is French for candle, thus chandelier came to apply to a candleholder that hung from the ceiling. The very earliest chandeliers were simple wooden crosses hung from the ceiling with a candle stuck on a pike at each end of the cross and sometimes on the center where the two pieces of the cross met. This allowed for easy candle replacement. When a candle burned down, another was stuck in its place. At first chandeliers were used in medieval churches or abbeys in order to give enough light to see in their big rooms. Later, chandeliers could be found in the biggest rooms of castles and the homes of the very wealthy. Beautifully ornate chandeliers can be seen prominently displayed in Dutch and Flemish paintings of wealthy households in the fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth centuries; proving that they were considered status symbols.

To increase the light thrown by chandeliers shiny brass plates, mirrors and dangling rock crystals were used. Later, glass with lead oxide added was used to diffract the light. This glass could be shaped easily into beautiful designs. Over the years, the candles in chandeliers changed from tallow to wax. With the advent of electricity, the chandelier became more of a decoration than a needed light source. Nowadays, the beauty of chandeliers graces many different homes in many different styles.

The late Victorian style of chandelier has blown globes of glass stacked in four or eight tiers on brass wheels. These chandeliers give off a soft pearly glow. There is a version that was popular in the seventies that used a white opaque glass and were much brighter than their Victorian forerunners.

There is a type of chandelier that has engraved tulip shaped frosted flutes as its main decorative ingredient. These are usually mounted on a metal wheel and give off a very bright light.

When you see glass shades dangling down from the wheel instead of sitting up like cups, you are looking at an Arts and Crafts style of chandelier. These dangling glass shades come in pairs of two, four or six. The metal frame is rustic looking.

Mission style chandeliers do not cast quite as bright a light as other styles. They use black iron wheels or crosses with square shades. The shades have opaque white or pearly glass that is streaked.

The wagon wheel style of chandelier is a wooden wheel with small lampshades on top of it containing electric lights in the shapes of candle flames. Usually these lights will give off a dim yellowish light.

If you are looking at a chandelier that is a metal starburst with multicolored Christmas bulbs shooting from it, you are looking at an Atomic Age chandelier.

Art Deco chandeliers have colorful round pendant drops and flower-shaped shades. Their colors are often green or pink, and they may be either frosted or streaked.

There are chandeliers that have beautiful Tiffany-style glass in a multitude of colors to go with any décor.

Of course, crystal chandeliers are usually the most elaborate style. They often look like they are dripping brilliantly reflective and refractive glass raindrops. Crystal chandeliers are often delightfully ornate. They may have swags of rounded glass beads as well as flame-shaped light bulbs. Sometimes they are made with Murano glass, adding brilliant colors to their designs. They will add elegance to any room wherein they are used.