French Gilt Tole Wrought Iron Chandelier

A French gilt tole chandelier: hand-forged iron carrying shaped and gilded sheet-metal leaves. Tole work is what gives this piece its soft, painterly look, quite different from the bare scrollwork elsewhere in this collection, and the gilding lifts it under warm light.

What tole actually means

Tole is decorative work in thin sheet metal, cut and shaped into leaves and flowers rather than forged from solid bar. It is a separate craft from blacksmithing: the sheet is cut, the veining is punched in, and each leaf is curled by hand before it is fixed to the iron frame. That is why the foliage on a tole chandelier looks light and papery where forged foliage looks solid. Both are made in our workshop, and this piece uses the two together, with a forged frame carrying tole leaves.

Where this chandelier works best

• Dining rooms and living rooms in French country and classical interiors.
• Bedrooms. The gilt finish and light foliage suit a softer room.
• Entryways where a heavier iron piece would feel severe.
• Boutique hotels and guest suites. Matched sets are manufactured to order.

Materials and finish

• Material: Hand-forged wrought iron frame with tole sheet-metal foliage
• Finish: Gilt, hand-applied
• Style: French, candle-style with tole leaves
• Usage: Indoor

Each piece is made by hand, so dimensions and light count are confirmed per order. Contact us for the exact height, diameter, chain drop and weight.

Handling tole foliage

Tole leaves are thin sheet metal, so they will bend if pushed or leaned on, and they can be gently bent back. When cleaning, support each leaf from underneath with one hand and dust the top with a soft brush. Do not wipe across the leaves with a cloth, as the edges can catch and distort.

Made to order in Saharanpur

Handcrafted in our own workshop. Diameter, arm count, foliage density, chain drop and finish can all be changed, with alternatives in antique bronze, verdigris and pale silver. Bulk and project orders are quoted factory-direct. We ship across India and worldwide.