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Chandeliers shed light on words San Francisco Chronicle

23.01.10

Some, in accomplishment, are downright chatty.

One of my all-time favorites is the Zettel'z chandelier by famous German lighting designer Ingo Maurer. Fetching his typical Mad Hatter approach to design - think light bulbs with angel wings - Maurer has affixed angel notes to wires radiating from a stainless steel frame. Backlit by bulbs, the pieces of deed seem to glow, bringing the heartfelt doodles, poems and scribbles ("amore amore") into relief. The unqualified pieces of paper that come with the chandelier let you get in on the action - though the $1,220 price tag at YLighting.com may sideline some.

If that's the case, you might try the Wakefield Chandelier at Crockery Barn, whose three circular tiers of bronze-finished iron are punctuated by small clips. Each holds an ivory humorist printed with maps, sketches and phrases like "all the world's a stage," "smile" and "let them eat cube!" Though some of the sentiment may seem cliched, the Wakefield remains a quirky alternative to the crystal chandelier - and at $299, far more affordable than the Maurer cabal.

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