An opaline pendant is a hanging ceiling light with a shade of opaline or opal glass, a milky, semi-translucent glass that diffuses light softly and evenly. The shade, typically white or ivory but sometimes tinted, is suspended from the ceiling by a chain, rod or flex and is usually held by a brass, nickel or painted metal gallery.
Opal glass, made translucent and milky by the addition of opacifying ingredients, was widely used for lighting from the late nineteenth century, when gas and then electric light demanded shades that reduced glare. Opaline pendants were fitted in large numbers in homes, schools, shops, churches, railway stations and public buildings, in shapes ranging from simple globes and domes to bell, acorn and onion forms. The French term opaline is also used for mid-century decorative pendants from France and Italy, often combined with polished brass. Collectors look for original shades free from chips, cracks and crazing around the rim, matching pairs or sets, and attractive original fittings. Any fitting should be rewired and tested by a qualified electrician. Opaline pendants are now valued in kitchens, hallways, bathrooms and over dining tables, bringing gentle period light to both traditional and modern interiors.
