Chains

From the chains of love that the Beatles sang about:

Chains, my baby's got me locked up in chains
And they ain't the kind that you can see
Woah, it's chains of love
Got a hold on me, yeah

To the chain which is only as strong as its weakest link, and the myriad of other related sayings and songs in English, the chain is as much a part of our psyche in symbolic form, as it is a purely functional item. We are probably not used to seeing ornamental and decorative chains – they tend to be something we just use to keep the dog in one spot when we need to. But if you have an old home, having chains which match your fittings really makes your home stand out!

Our chains are used for crystal chandeliers, or any ceiling lights, to connect them with the ceiling. You could also be a bit creative with your chain placement – you could use it on your door along with a sliding piece for security, or also to hang several photo frames together – or even for hanging pot plants from the ceiling or rafters. They are too pretty to just be functional!

Here on the Architectural Classics Online Shop, you will find very ornate chandelier chains and a number of simple ones. We recommend the cast brass French chains in the Regency style. Some of them have unusual fold over loops and brass rings, or there are the ones that are made up of two types of plain links. One is a simple circular brass link joining up with a similar rectangular shaped link. These period style chains based on 19th century designs will certainly add style and value to your chandelier.

We also have a magnificent example of a French cast brass chain with 18th century detail. The chain has two types of brass links, one a simple plain link joining to a rectangular shaped link with unusual ornate detail, to create a run of very stylish period chain.

How to clean your chain:

 

Chains are rather fiddly things to clean – you will probably want to clean your chain at the same time as your chandelier, to save the nerve-racking operation of taking the chandelier down being performed more often than necessary. This makes it lucky that chains with a patina of age probably look more at homew in an old house than do super clean and shiny ones! When you do need to clean your chain, use the brass polish which you can buy from Architectural Classics.