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Chandeliers are some of the most popular styles of lighting in the world, with a number of varieties and sizes of chandelier installations available to buy. However, perhaps the most famous chandelier style of them all is the Venetian chandelier, a specific kind of design that uses lead glass to create an ornate and sophisticated effect. venetian chandeliers are popular for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the way that they can scatter light through refraction. Venetian chandeliers are also known as Murano chandeliers, named after the small island off the coast of the city of Venice. Along with their general decorative and refined appearance, Venetian chandeliers are most famous for their use of highly refractive lead crystal glass.

Lead glass was first developed commercially during the 18th century, due to developments that allowed for the cheaper production of this material. Lead glass quickly became a popular addition to the chandeliers being made at the time, and has been linked with chandelier installations ever since. More than anything else, Venetian chandeliers are considered special for their ornate use of crystal glass materials. In reality however, crystal glass does not have a crystal structure at all, and was named this way for its similarity in terms of scattering light. Crystal glass is made by combining lead and glass in a certain manner, a technique that the master craftsmen of Murano and Venice became famous for during the 18th century.

Since this time, the techniques of crystal glass design and manufacture have been perfected even more, with high quality, light scattering glass now being made all over the world. However, because these techniques were first developed in the areas surrounding Venice, they will always be associated with this part of the world. Whether you call them Venetian chandeliers, Murano chandeliers, or simply crystal chandeliers, lead glass chandeliers are probably the most famous example of the chandelier form. While other elements like specific styles of branching and use of materials also influenced the Venetian chandelier form, it is the famous glassmakers of Murano who are mostly responsible for our modern view of Venetian chandeliers.