Removing the plaster will give us the opportunity to upgrade the lighting in that room. We installed recessed lights in the ceiling years ago (I say "we", but it was my father-in-law who did it) ... and I plan to add a chandelier, to provide the perfect accent.
From time to time, I would search "crystal chandelier" on Craigslist to see what popped up. I had a very distinct image in my imagination of what I wanted, and I finally found it last week!
The ad said that this chandelier was removed as part of the renovation of a house in downtown Fredericksburg. He estimated that it had been installed during the home's last renovation, in the 1930s or 40s. Makes sense, because of the style of wiring and the lack of any sort of markings on it.
1930 is about the time when OUR living room was given an update. I know that the baseboards and window and door casings were replaced then, and I suspect that that's when the bookcase was built beside the fireplace.
In my search for the perfect chandelier, I was looking for one that didn't look like a dining room chandelier. This one perfectly fits that description. It's twenty-four inches in diameter, twenty-eight inches long, and every part of it is in perfect condition ... it's just totally filthy.
Having this chandelier on hand means that we no longer have to wonder about what we are going to do in the living room. This project isn't going to get done any time soon, mind you ... we have other things that are much more pressing that require our time and budget. Until the living room renovation rises to the top of the list, at least I have the comfort of knowing that the chandelier for that room is safely stored away until it's time to put it into place.
(photos in this post are from the Craigslist ad)