MENTION chandeliers and what comes to mind?

Maybe the sight of the awesome silver one at Chatsworth. More likely it is the sad fate of the one in A Touch of Glass, the first episode of Only Fools And Horses to pull in an audience of over 10 million.

The chandelier in question was one of two, but grandad unfortunately unscrewed the wrong one from the floor above with inevitable smashing consequences.

Chandeliers have been in use for many hundreds of years, with some of the most elaborate ones being used in abbeys, churches and cathedrals.

By the 17th century, their use was proliferating in domestic settings.

Materials used included silver, glass and even rock crystal as well as the more everyday brass. In England, gilded wood was popular.

During the 18th century, lavish chandeliers were produced here using the lead glass (blueish tint) first created by Ravenscroft in the late 17th century.

Good prices continue to be fetched for for those high quality examples that have escaped such a fate as that portrayed on television.

The most expensive example sold recently made £42,000 (estimate £1,500 to £2,000) at Anderson and Garland in Newcastle in March of last year.

Measuring 38 inches high, it was a French Louis XIV style ormolu (gilt bronze) eight-branch chandelier in the manner of Andre Charles Boulle.

The decoration comprised applied cherub mask caryatids and applied acanthus leaf brackets below, while the base was decorated with female caryatids and further acanthus leaf moulding, terminating in a leaf moulded and floral finial.

This price is indicative of the fact that there are infinite funds available for the type of item which appeals to people with infinite funds.

More humble brass was used in the construction of the late 17th century Scandinavian 74 centimetres wide eight-branch chandelier with knopped centre stem hanging from a trefoil suspension loop which was sold by Wilkinsons of Doncaster for £4,100 (estimate £4,000 to £5,000) in November of last year.

It is worth noting that the current market is more interested in glittery shiny things regardless of age than rare antiques like this one.

Most of the high priced examples have been made from less robust cut glass.

In July, Dreweatts & Bloomsbury obtained £14,000 (estimate £8,000 to £12,000) for a 122cm high Regency example circa 1815, possibly by James Blades of London, with elaborate gilt metal mounts, the cresting hung with festoons of icicle drops and with diamond and step-cut canopies.

The same auction house sold a 71cm high cut glass hung and silver plated metal six light chandelier in George III style, early 20th century, reputedly by Osler for £2,200 (estimate £800 to £1,200) in January of this year.

Chorleys of Gloucester modestly estimated a 155cm wide example incorporating five frosted glass caryatids at £500 to £700 in January 2015 perhaps because it needed some attention due to missing, detached or misplaced bits. Bidders were undeterred though as it sailed up to £4,500.

Diary dates

Wednesday, April 27

Specialist Diecast Sale

Vectis Auctions, Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees

Tel: 01642 750616

Wednesday, April 27

10am

Boulton & Cooper

Milton Rooms

Malton

Tel: 01653 696151

Thursday, April 28

Stamps, Postcards & Postal History Valuation Day at the Harrogate Office

Tennants, Leyburn

Tel: 01969 623780

Thursday, April 28

Friday, April 29

TV & Film Related Sale

Vectis Auctions, Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees

Tel: 01642 750616

Friday, April 29

9.30am

Auction: Antiques & Interiors including Beswick & Border Fine Art

10.30am

Vintage Costume, Textiles, Dolls & Teddy bears

Tennants, Leyburn

Tel: 01969 623 780

Friday, April 29 to Sunday, May 1

11am to 5pm

Antiques & Fine Art Fair, Pavilions of Harrogate

Cooper Antiques Fairs

Tel: 01278 784912

Saturday, April 30

11am

Auction Antiques & Collectables

David Duggleby

Scarborough

Tel: 01723 507111

Friday, May 6

10.30am

Auction: Militaria & Ethnographica

Tennants, Leyburn

Tel: 01969 623780

Tuesday, May 10

Picture Valuation Day

at the Harrogate Office

Tennants, Leyburn

Tel: 01969 623780

Wednesday, May 11

Noon

Auction

Books, Maps, postcards, Ephemera

Tennants, Leyburn

Tel: 01969 623780

Thursday, May 12

Jewellery Valuation Day

Tennants Harrogate Office

Tel: 01969 623780

Friday, May 13

10am

Antique & Fine Art Auction

Dee, Atkinson & Harrison

The Exchange

Exchange Street

Driffield

Tel: 01377 253151

Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14

9.30am

Country House Sale

Tennants, Leyburn

Tel: 01969 623780

Saturday, May 14

11am

Auction Antiques & Collectables

David Duggleby

Scarborough

Tel: 01723 507111

Sunday, May 15

11am

Auction: Railwayana, Toys & Collectables

Ryedale Auctioneers

Kirkbymoorside

Tel: 01751 431544

Tuesday, May 17

Private Owner Diecast Collection

Vectis Auctions, Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees

Tel: 01642 750616

Wednesday, May 18 and Thursday, May 19

Specialist Diecast

Vectis Auctions, Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees

Tel: 01642 750616

Wednesday, May 18

Coins and Banknotes Valuation Day at Harrogate Office

Tennants, Leyburn.

Tel: 01969 623780

Friday, May 20

Model Train Sale

Vectis Auctions, Thornaby, Stockton on Tees

Tel: 01642 750616

Saturday, May 21

9.30am

Auction: Antiques & Interiors

10.30am

Jewellery, Watches & Silver

Tennants, Leyburn

Tel: 01969 623780

Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22

10am to 5pm

Admission £5

The Yorkshire Antiques & Art Fair

Yorkshire Event Centre

Great Yorkshire Showground

Harrogate

Bowman Antiques Fairs

Tel: 01274 588505

Monday, May 23

Clocks, Watches & Barometers Valuation Day

Tennants Harrogate Office

Tel: 01969 623780

Tuesday, May 24

Palitoy and Star Wars Sale

Vectis Auctions, Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees

Tel: 01642 750616

Wednesday, May 25

Beeches Toy Shop and General Toy Sale

Vectis Auctions, Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees

Tel: 01642 750616

Wednesday, May 25

10am

Boulton & Cooper

Murton

Tel: 01653 696151

Saturday, May 28

11am

Auction Antiques & Collectables

David Duggleby

Scarborough

Tel: 01723 507111

Thursday, June 2

9am to 6pm

Admission £20 (allows entry on both days)

Friday, June 3

8am to 4pm

Admission £5

IACF Antiques Fairs

Newark International Antiques & Collectors Fair

Newark & Notts. Showground

Tel: 01636 702326

Saturday, June 4

9.30am

Auction: Antiques & Interiors

10.30am

Modern & Contemporary Art

Tennants, Leyburn

Tel: 01969 623780

Friday, June 10

10.30am

Auction: Musical Instruments

Tennants, Leyburn

Tel: 01969 623780

Saturday, June 11

11am

Auction Antiques & Collectables

David Duggleby

Scarborough

Tel: 01723 507111

Saturday, June 11 and Sunday, June 12

Antique & Collectors Fair

Wetherby Racecourse

Jaguar Fairs

9am to 5pm - £5

Trade Saturday 8am - £6.00

Tel: 01332 831404

Tuesday, June 14

James Bond Sale

Vectis Auctions, Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees

Tel: 01642 750616

Wednesday, June 15

Robots and Sci-Fi Sale

Vectis Auctions, Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees

Tel: 01642 750616

Wednesday, June 15

10am

Boulton & Cooper

Milton Rooms

Malton

Tel: 01653 696151