A seus lighting foyer lighting collection exemplifies the enduring qualities of chandeliers as they last throughout centuries while maintaining popularity. The White House, for one, has its own share of chandelier lighting collections being part of the history of the executive residence and office of the US President.
There is in fact a White House Curator designated to carry out the tasks of seeing to the care and preservation of the 21 fixtures making up The Lighting Collection. The assemblage includes two (2) foyer chandeliers in the Ground Floor, ten (10) in the second floor and nine (9) in the State Floor where there are three (3) massive chandeliers in the East Room.
During the years prior to the arrival of electrical installations, the residents and servants of the White House used candles and lard oil lamps to light up dark spaces during night time.
Yet several US Presidents saw to the addition of chandeliers to improve lighting in the State Floor function rooms, especially in the East Room.
Pres. Andrew Jackson’s Administration Upgraded the East Room Lighting
The East Room, which is the largest room of the executive residence has the most impressive and grandest chandeliers. President Andrew Jackson ordered the replacement of candle-burning chandeliers with chandeliers that made use of lard-fueled oil lamps.
Pres. James Polk’s Gas-Powered Chandelier Replacements
In 1848. the government of President James Polk took to harnessing the gas piping technology. The upgrade gave way to the installation of a new lighting technology known as gasoliers, which replaced the traditional chandeliers that made use of candles and oil lamps.
Pres. Ulysses Grant Updated the East Room Chandeliers in Victorian Era Style
Several years later after the civil war, the administration of President Ulysses Grant saw to the redecoration of the East Room. Following the opulent gilded style of the Victorian era, redecoration projects included the installation of three massive gasolier chandeliers.
The three chandeliers were considered extravagant because each level of the 3-tiered crystal chandelier was illuminated by 38 globe burners that reflected light through thousands of prism beads and pieces of cut-glass.
The Advent of Electricity Led to the Installation of Electrical Chandeliers
White House history has it that electric lighting was fully installed only in 1891 during President Benjamin Harrison’s term, electrical lightings were only used to supplement the ceiling gasoliers. In line with the project, the Thomas Edison Electrical Co. was commissioned to install electrical wiring systems in the Executive Mansion as well as in the State, Navy and War Buildings.
Pres. Theodore Roosevelt Gives All Out Support for Electric Power
When Theodore Roosevelt was elected into office in 1902, his administration had the installation of electrical wiring systems in the entire White House. After all, electricity was already a common utility in American homes.
Renovation and redecoration projects were again underway In line with the installation of the electrical lighting systems.
The three massive chandeliers in the East Room were again replaced with three equally massive electricity-powered chandeliers, but more grandiose. The new East Room chandeliers were made of 6,000 cut glass held in place by gilded bronze frames. In later years, the East Room electrical chandeliers were brought down for modification, which involved the shortening of the diameter of the lowest tier.
In 2014, apparently more concerned with reducing the amount of electricity used by the White House, then incumbent President Barack Obama ordered the installation of solar panels. Rather than focus on redecorating the East Room with the modern bubble lighting chandeliers, pushed through with the solar panel project initiated by President Jimmy Carter years ago.