Meyda Custom Lighting Creates Custom Victorian Chandelier for Traverse City Opera House

Traverse City, Michigan---When Dr. Timothy Hanley and his wife Sally decided to donate a chandelier to the Traverse City Opera House as part of an ongoing, major restoration project, Meyda Custom Lighting was contacted to custom design and manufacture this one-of-a-kind fixture. Meyda Custom Lighting, based in Yorkville, New York, is a Meyda Tiffany company and a leading manufacturer and designer of custom lighting and decor.

The original Victorian-style chandelier, which featured Vienna glass globes powered by gas, was lost over time.  No images of the fixture were available. The new chandelier was based on a conceptual design prepared by the opera house's restoration architects, Quinn-Evans of Ann Arbor, Michigan. The design represents a historic interpretation of lighting fixtures that were in use in the late nineteenth century.   After extensive communications, Meyda Custom Lighting refined the design with elaborate accents and decorative touches to meet the specifications of the City Opera House Heritage Association.

The Meyda "Lyre Chandelier" was inspired by the lyre motif featured as a small sculpture centered high atop the proscenium of the opera house.  The lighting fixture was crafted with eight arms suspending hand-blown etched glass globes, to complement globe-styled wall sconces and pendants throughout the building. 

The Chandelier features a stunning Amber shade trimmed with a dramatic Greek Key border design.  Above the half-dome shade is a stunning, three-dimensional, Golden finished Lyre with fanciful grape accents, reflecting the growing importance of winemaking to the region.
The chandelier is eight feet wide, 78 inches tall and weighs 350 pounds. Meyda artisans handcrafted the fixture in the company's manufacturing facility in Yorkville, New York.

The Lighting Center of Traverse City, Michigan helped specify the chandelier, while Advantage Electric of Traverse City completed the installation.

According to Jeffry Corbin, Vice Chairman of the Traverse City Opera House Heritage Association, "Meyda’s designers and craftsmen worked closely with us and the donors to achieve a result worthy of the building and the gift.  Audiences confirm their approval of the chandelier design with their continuing compliments.”

The Traverse City Opera House was the first public building in Traverse City to feature electric lighting. The opera house, which was built in the 1890s in downtown Traverse City, is now a cultural hub and a magnificent jewel in the area.  The restoration project included a grand entrance and lobby, elevator and construction of the balcony, adding more than 343 seats for a total capacity of 710 seats.  In addition, the dressing areas, restrooms, decorative painting and catering equipment were updated.

About Meyda Custom Lighting

Meyda Custom Lighting is a Meyda Tiffany Company, the nation's leading manufacturer and designer of Tiffany lamps and decorative lighting. Although founded in 1974, the firm's roots actually date back to the early 1900s, supplying the Master Louis Comfort Tiffany and his Tiffany Studios with lighting products, and creating the original Coca-Cola stained glass lamps and chandeliers.

With years of designing and manufacturing expertise, Meyda Custom Lighting has developed innovations, technologies and value engineering that transcend architectural lighting for any budget or economy, in today's commercial and residential markets.  The company's diverse group of designers and engineers create custom fixtures, lamps, windows or accessories to meet the exact specifications of any project.

A variety of lighting diffusers include stained glass Tiffanys, mica, fabric, fused glass, sand-carved glass, glass-blowing and acrylic.  Fabricators work with steel, iron, aluminum, bronze, brass and copper, while employing a variety of craftsmanship techniques including forging, welding, forming, plasma cutting and soldering.

The company's extensive palette of finishes features many textures and colors achieved by employing gilding, hand painting, power coating and electroplating.  Convention and energy efficient lamping solutions are available, including LEDs, compact fluorescents, incandescents and more.

For more information, contact Meyda Custom Lighting Toll-Free at (800) 222-4009. Website: www.Meyda.com  Email: sales@Meyda.com.
Meyda Custom Lighting is headquartered at One Meyda Fine Place, 55 Oriskany Boulevard, Yorkville, NY 13495.