Gasolier

/ɡæsəˈlɪr/ noun

Definition

A chandelier or light fixture powered by gas, popular in the 19th century as an elegant alternative to candles and precursor to electric lighting.

Etymology

Portmanteau of 'gas' + 'chandelier' (from French 'chandelle' meaning candle), created in the 1800s to describe the Victorian-era lighting technology that dominated before electricity.

Kelly Says

Gasoliers were status symbols of Victorian wealth—a ornate gasolier in your parlor showed you could afford this modern technology, and removing them to install electric lights was a later status marker, creating a complete cycle of luxury obsolescence.

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