Restoring the historical Empire chandeliers with E-candles

The chandeliers that have lit the Royal Palace since the era of Louis Bonaparte had been removed in a previous restoration and stored in crates in the attic. Restoration architect Krijn van den Ende, who led the last restoration, said: “A palace like this is unthinkable without chandeliers.”

Based on old photographs from the 19th century, the chandeliers were reassembled and hung in the rooms where they had originally been installed.

The fire-gilded chandeliers and wall chandeliers were remounted on the walls of the upstairs floors.

Halogen E-candles

ll chandeliers and wall chandeliers now have E-candle Royal halogen candles. The modern halogen candles resemble the soft candlelight from the era of Louis Bonaparte.

Van der Ende says: “Those chandeliers are perhaps the most important link between the 19th-century furniture and the 17th-century interior.”