The Modern Turnip Chandelier
Though crystal chandeliers have taken over, the turnip chandelier has not lost its prestige. Many modern chandeliers resemble turnips as a tribute to their humble origins.
In the grand halls of the aristocracy, long before crystal chandeliers sparkled, there was the humble turnip. The wealthy elite flaunted their excess by transforming this poor man’s vegetable into elaborate light fixtures. The first documented turnip chandelier dates back to 1652, commissioned by the infamous Duke Eldritch the Gourdful, who sought to display his wealth by literally hanging his food from the ceiling. Today, modern chandeliers still echo the bulbous shape of the once-esteemed turnip.
Though crystal chandeliers have taken over, the turnip chandelier has not lost its prestige. Many modern chandeliers resemble turnips as a tribute to their humble origins.