1950s Cascade Pendant Chandelier – Metal E27 Lamp Socket

1950s Cascade Pendant Chandelier

Materials: Brass parts. Wood (possible teak). Ribbed oval opal globe glass lampshades. Plastic parts. Chromed iron ring. Wooden canopy. Iron and porcelain E27 socket.

Height: 125 cm / 49.21”

Width: ∅ 48 cm / 18.89”

Glass: 22 x 16 cm / 8.66 x 6.29”

Electricity: 3 bulbs E27, 3 x 60 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of light bulb can be used. For this type of lamps frosted or white light bulbs are preferred.

Period: 1950s, 1960s – Mid-Century Modern.

Designer: To be appraised.

Manufacturer: Massive, Kontich and Wommelgem, Belgium.

Other versions: This Scandinavian style 1950s cascade pendant chandelier was made in slight variations. This one has a hexagonal canopy. They were also build with a round one. Exists also as a single pendant lamp and a wall lamp. Produced with different models of glass. Also the metal ring around the wood on top of the glass was made in brass plated iron or in chromed iron. A single pendant lamp can be found here. This chandelier is model 5053/3.

These type of chandeliers are always attributed to Louis Kalff and Philips, but they are not. Similar lamps were made by Philips, but they are different. For instance, Philips never uses the metal part on top of the glass and the ribs in the glass are smaller. Also, Philips never used wooden canopies for their lamps.

Massive 

Massive was in origin a bronze foundry and they produced mainly candlesticks, crucifixes and chandeliers in Wilrijk near Antwerp, Belgium. The company was founded in 1926 by Pieter-Jozef De Jaeck. His son Eddy De Jaeck was responsible for the huge expansion of the company in the 1970s. But it were his sons, Piet and Jan De Jaeck who made Massive a true multinational. Thus, they moved production to Eastern Europe and China.

In the 1980s Massive became the leading brand in Europe. In 2002, the brothers left the company to the investment fund CVC Capital Partners, for allegedly more than 250 million euros. 
Since 2008 the company is owned by Philips and the name of the shops is changed into Light Gallery.

When the takeover by Philips was announced in November 2006 Massive commercialized more than 10.000 lighting products under brand names such as Massive, TRIO and Lirio. The group had about 5.000 employees worldwide and was active in 70 countries.