How the glitzy chandelier became a reinvented modern must-have

Chandeliers are one of those design products that’s ripe for reinvention. They are so familiar, and so associated with upper-crust interiors, that they are the epitome of luxury – so it’s refreshing to see designers turn tradition on its head to create something new. “I love the element of surprise in my work; sometimes it takes people a while to notice the unexpected details,” says Fiona Gall, a lighting designer.

Alongside traditional crystal drops, her chandeliers incorporate reclaimed objects that you wouldn’t expect to see in a light fitting, such as cut-up antique cutlery or Victorian liqueur glasses. “I use a lot of fish knives for their interesting shape, and I prefer the cutlery that isn’t in pristine condition, which would otherwise be scrapped,” she says.

Many of her raw materials would have been discarded by others. “Dealers tell me that the liqueur glasses are really difficult to sell.” Gall works under the name Emerald Faerie, reflecting the fantastical, twisted fairy-tale element of her chandeliers. “They are kind of dark,” she says, “not just twee and pretty..