GIRANDOLE [from the Ital. girandola], an ornamental and luxurious candle-holder that came into use about the second half of the 17th century, and was commonly made and used in pairs. In the great 18th-century period of French house decora tion the famous ciseleurs designed some exceedingly beautiful exam ples. Various metals have been used for the purpose and some have been made in hard woods. Gilded bronze has been a very frequent medium, but for table purposes silver is still the favour ite material.