At the turn of the century, there was a continued serious move to design fancier and fancier theaters, restaurants, and financial institutions. A fast method to mimic classical Greek and Roman carved marble magnificence was fine plaster work. Workers were often imported from Europe for their skilled working with molds and structures that graced historical buildings there. This was a true artistic craft that has since been mostly lost. During its heyday, though, American workers also learned these skills and produced some equally fantastic items all on their own. Even today, as companies of conscience restore the plaster work in historical buildings, we marvel at the beauty and wonderful effect of a simple moldable material that can achieve such beauty when manipulated by a skilled craftsperson. During this time, lovely cast industrial plaster chandeliers were also produced to match the like columns and friezes that adorned elaborate interiors. Naturally, being made the way they were, most did not survive the misguided modernization process...being dropped from the ceilings and destroyed on impact...or they were simply scrapped as old fashion. A shame really...but so antiques and our history goes. While It does Show age with slight bumps and bruises, It Is still A very unique antique that deserve to be re-installed in A historic buildings for a great indirect lighting affect.
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