How did 18th-century wall lights produce more illumination after reflector plates were abandoned?

In the 18th century, the design of wall lights evolved significantly as the use of reflector plates—which had been a prominent feature of 17th-century lighting—was abandoned.1

To compensate for the loss of these reflectors and achieve the desired level of illumination, manufacturers shifted their approach to the physical arrangement of the lights themselves. Rather than relying on reflection to intensify the light, they increased the total output by massing a greater number of candle sockets onto each fixture. These sockets were typically arranged in tiers or, particularly during the Rococo period, designed to grow asymmetrically out of a central stem. This transition allowed for a more decorative and elaborate aesthetic while maintaining the bright, well-lit environments favored in the salons of the nobility and gentry during that era.1