What was the purpose of the huge candle coronas used in the 12th and 13th centuries?

In the 12th and 13th centuries, huge candle coronas—which were openwork hoops made of iron or bronze—served as a primary method for lighting interior spaces, functioning as the northern European equivalent to the hanging oil lamps used in eastern Europe.1

These structures were designed to support numerous prickets, which were spikes used to hold candles. While these coronas were essential for illumination, their construction varied by setting: those created for royal palaces were often crafted from gold or silver and were sometimes embellished with jewels, whereas those intended for ecclesiastical use were typically made of iron or bronze. A notable surviving example of this Romanesque style is the chandelier created in 1168 for the Palatine Chapel of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa in Aachen Cathedral.21