Lion Electric Co. 1920’s Period Piece Art Deco Crystal & Silver Chandelier. This chandelier has been refurbished and is complete. 95% original.
Extremely rare museum quality piece. Though there is not much information on the Lion Electric Manufacturing Company it is arguably one of the most premier lighting companies
A Preserved Piece of Detroit’s Architectural History
Thank you for visiting Art and Beautiful Things.
Some antiques are admired for their beauty. Others are cherished because they survived. This extraordinary Art Deco crystal chandelier is both.
Produced by the Lion Electric Manufacturing Company during the golden age of American decorative lighting, this exceptional five-light chandelier was rescued from a historic downtown Detroit home before the building was demolished. Rather than disappearing with the structure it illuminated for decades, the fixture was carefully removed, preserved, and thoughtfully refurbished while retaining approximately 95% of its original components.
Today, it stands not only as a magnificent lighting fixture but as an authentic survivor of one of America’s most exciting architectural periods—a tangible connection to Detroit’s remarkable past.
A Chandelier That Witnessed Detroit’s Golden Age
During the 1920s and early 1930s, Detroit was one of the wealthiest and fastest-growing cities in the world. Fueled by the automobile industry, the city became a showcase for innovation, luxury, and modern design. Spectacular homes, elegant apartment buildings, hotels, and commercial spaces embraced the newly emerging Art Deco style, celebrating clean geometry, luxurious materials, and impeccable craftsmanship.
It was during this remarkable period that this chandelier was created.
For decades it illuminated a downtown Detroit residence, quietly witnessing changing generations before eventually facing the same fate as countless historic buildings lost to redevelopment.
Fortunately, before demolition began, this chandelier was rescued and preserved.
Because of that effort, an important piece of Detroit’s architectural heritage continues to exist today instead of becoming another casualty of progress.
Designed During the Height of American Art Deco
Every detail reflects the sophistication that made Art Deco one of the most influential design movements of the twentieth century.
The elegant five-arm configuration radiates gracefully from a beautifully proportioned central column, creating symmetry without appearing rigid. Delicate curves soften the architecture while maintaining the clean lines that distinguish authentic Art Deco lighting from the elaborate ornamentation of earlier Victorian fixtures.
The silver-toned finish provides a refined backdrop for the brilliant crystal ornamentation, allowing the fixture to sparkle while maintaining an understated elegance.
Nearly a century later, the design remains every bit as sophisticated as it was when first installed.
An Extraordinary Display of Crystal
The chandelier is richly adorned with sparkling crystal elements that transform ordinary light into an ever-changing display of brilliance.
Beautiful crystal bead swags drape gracefully between each arm, creating the elegant waterfall effect so closely associated with luxury lighting of the late 1920s.
Hand-cut spear prisms suspend beneath each candle cup and from the central body, capturing and refracting light from every angle.
Additional crystal elements accent the center column while a dramatic elongated crystal finial completes the composition with remarkable visual balance.
Whether illuminated in the evening or admired in natural daylight, the chandelier offers exceptional sparkle and depth.
Lion Electric Manufacturing Company
Although less widely documented than some of its larger contemporaries, the Lion Electric Manufacturing Company produced exceptionally well-crafted lighting during the early decades of the twentieth century.
Original fixtures bearing the Lion Electric name are encountered far less frequently today than those from many better-known manufacturers. Their relative scarcity has made surviving examples increasingly attractive to collectors, architectural historians, and interior designers seeking authentic period lighting.
This chandelier represents not only the quality associated with early American electrical manufacturing but also the artistry that defined luxury residential interiors during the Art Deco era.
Rescued Rather Than Replaced
One of the qualities that makes this chandelier especially meaningful is its story.
Too often, historic homes disappear without anyone preserving the remarkable craftsmanship found inside them. Decorative plasterwork, carved wood, stained glass, and period lighting are frequently discarded during demolition.
This chandelier was fortunate.
Recognizing its beauty and historical importance, it was carefully removed before the home was demolished, allowing it to begin an entirely new chapter.
Every crystal, every graceful arm, and every reflective surface carries with it nearly a century of history.
Rather than becoming construction debris, this fixture now offers another generation the opportunity to appreciate the artistry of American craftsmen whose work has endured long after the buildings they created it for have vanished.
Professionally Refurbished While Respecting Its History
This chandelier has been carefully refurbished with great respect for its original construction and design.
Approximately 95% of the original components remain, preserving the authenticity that collectors appreciate while ensuring the fixture is once again ready to become the focal point of a beautiful interior.
The restoration emphasizes preservation rather than replacement, allowing the chandelier to retain the character and craftsmanship that make genuine period lighting so desirable.
An Investment in Beauty and History
Authentic architectural lighting has become increasingly sought after as collectors and designers recognize the value of preserving original decorative arts.
Unlike reproductions, an original Art Deco chandelier possesses an authenticity that simply cannot be recreated. Every prism reflects decades of history, while every carefully crafted detail speaks to an era when quality and artistry took precedence over mass production.
Whether displayed in a restored historic home, a contemporary residence seeking contrast and character, a luxury condominium, boutique hotel, library, dining room, or grand foyer, this chandelier becomes more than a lighting fixture.
It becomes a conversation piece.
It becomes architectural sculpture.
Most importantly, it becomes a stewarded piece of Detroit’s history—saved from demolition and preserved for generations yet to come.
Measurements
Height: 30″
Diameter: 24
Weight: 50
Condition
Professionally refurbished while retaining approximately 95% of its original components. The chandelier displays beautifully, with light age-appropriate wear to the metal finish and crystal that is consistent with its age. The crystal ornamentation remains exceptionally attractive, and the fixture presents with the elegance expected of a fine Art Deco example.
Condition is consistent with age and use.
Thank you again for visiting Art and Beautiful Things.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions or requests for additional photographs.
Our Condition Rating
Excellent – We almost never rate anything as excellent because to us, excellent means brand new and still in packaging. If we’ve only removed it from the box for photography, it still receives a "very good" rating.
Very Good – This is where most of our items fall. To us, this means as close to excellent as possible: museum-quality, with no imperfections unless noted (and even then, only very minor ones).
Good – Acceptable. Worth owning, especially if it’s difficult to find in better condition.
Fair – Rough condition. Only rated fair if the item has substantial historical value or is salvage-worthy.
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