1950s Chalkware Lamp
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Ceramic
Early 20th Century American Organic Modern Table Lamps
Composition
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Plaster, String, Cotton
Vintage 1950s American Table Lamps
Brass, Gold Leaf
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Plaster
Vintage 1950s American Hollywood Regency Table Lamps
Ceramic, Plaster, Fiberglass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Plaster
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Wood, Chenille
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Metal
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Ceramic
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Ceramic
Vintage 1950s American Table Lamps
Ceramic
20th Century American Figurative Sculptures
Plaster
20th Century American Figurative Sculptures
Plaster
People Also Browsed
Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Table Lamps
Chrome, Metal
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Deco Table Lamps
Spelter
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese French Provincial Dining Room T...
Wood
Vintage 1920s Italian Art Deco Table Lamps
Alabaster
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Table Lamps
Marble, Spelter
Vintage 1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Brass
Vintage 1930s German Art Deco Table Lamps
Brass
Vintage 1970s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Table Lamps
Brass
2010s French Art Deco Table Lamps
Straw
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bottles
Clay
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Metal
Antique 19th Century Chinese Table Lamps
Porcelain
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Porcelain
Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Floor Lamps
Ceramic, Fabric
Vintage 1920s British Rococo Tea Sets
Metal, Silver, Silver Plate, Sterling Silver, Sheet Metal, Silver Leaf
Recent Sales
Vintage 1950s American Table Lamps
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Table Lamps
Vintage 1950s American Chinoiserie Table Lamps
Ceramic
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Ceramic
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures
Plaster
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Metal
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Mid-20th Century American Table Lamps
Plaster
20th Century American Figurative Sculptures
Plaster
20th Century American Figurative Sculptures
Plaster
Vintage 1920s Revival Table Lamps
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Plaster
1950s Chalkware Lamp For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a 1950s Chalkware Lamp?
Finding the Right table-lamps for You
Well-crafted antique and vintage table lamps do more than provide light; the right fixture-and-table combination can add a focal point or creative element to any interior.
Proper table lamps have long been used for lighting our most intimate spaces. Perfect for lighting your nightstand or reading nook, table lamps play an integral role in styling an inviting room. In the years before electricity, lamps used oil. Today, a rewired 19th-century vintage lamp can still provide a touch of elegance for a study.
After industrial milestones such as mass production took hold in the Victorian era, various design movements sought to bring craftsmanship and innovation back to this indispensable household item. Lighting designers affiliated with Art Deco, which originated in the glamorous roaring ’20s, sought to celebrate modern life by fusing modern metals with dark woods and dazzling colors in the fixtures of the era. The geometric shapes and gilded details of vintage Art Deco table lamps provide an air of luxury and sophistication that never goes out of style.
After launching in 1934, Anglepoise lamps soon became a favorite among modernist architects and designers, who interpreted the fixture as “a machine for lighting,” just as Le Corbusier had reimagined the house as “a machine for living in.” The popular task light owed to a collaboration between a vehicle-suspension engineer by the name of George Carwardine and a West Midlands springs manufacturer, Herbert Terry & Sons.
Some mid-century modern table lamps, particularly those created by the likes of Joe Colombo and the legendary lighting artisans at Fontana Arte, bear all the provocative hallmarks associated with Space Age design. Sculptural and versatile, the Louis Poulsen table lamps of that period were revolutionary for their time and still seem innovative today.
If you are looking for something more contemporary, industrial table lamps are demonstrative of a newly chic style that isn’t afraid to pay homage to the past. They look particularly at home in any rustic loft space amid exposed brick and steel beams.
Before you buy a desk lamp or table lamp for your living room, consider your lighting needs. The Snoopy lamp, designed in 1967, or any other “banker’s lamp” (shorthand for the Emeralite desk lamps patented by H.G. McFaddin and Company), provides light at a downward angle that is perfect for writing, while the Fontana table lamp and the beloved Grasshopper lamp by Greta Magnusson-Grossman each yield a soft and even glow. Some table lamps require lampshades to be bought separately.
Whether it’s a classic antique Tiffany table lamp, a Murano glass table lamp or even a bold avant-garde fixture custom-made by a contemporary design firm, the right table lamp can completely transform a room. Find the right one for you on 1stDibs.
- How do I clean Chalkware lamps?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022To clean Chalkware lamps, use a dry, soft microfiber cloth. Because chalkware does not have a glazed finish, you should never apply water or soap. On 1stDibs, you can shop a selection of Chalkware lamps from some of the world’s top sellers.
- 1stDibs ExpertJune 30, 2023Some popular watches for men during the 1950s were the Rolex Submariner, the Enicar Sherpa Dive, the Breitling Navitimer, Omega, Constellation and the Rolex GMT-Master. Rolex, Timex, Orvin, Tower and Elgin were among the top watchmakers for women during the decade. On 1stDibs, find a collection of antique, vintage and contemporary watches.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 21, 2024The clothing style in the 1950s was well tailored and classic. For women, dresses with padded busts, cinched waists and hips, and full circle skirts were popular, and the collared button-up shirt dress came into fashion during the decade. Men tended to wear suits in neutral gray, dark blue and brown colors made out of easy-to-care-for synthetic fabrics. Straight-cut double-breasted blazers were commonly worn for casual occasions. On 1stDibs, explore a variety of vintage clothing from the 1950s.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 21, 2023In the 1950s, several diamond cuts were popular. They included the brilliant round cut, the Asscher cut, the emerald cut and the marquise cut. Rings that featured a large central stone flanked by smaller baguettes were also trendy during the decade. Find a collection of vintage diamond jewelry on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 6, 2023There were a few popular diamond cuts in the 1950s. One was the brilliant round cut, which is still common today due to its simple shape and prominent sparkle. Other favorite cuts of the decade included the Asscher cut, the emerald cut and the marquise cut. On 1stDibs, explore a large selection of engagement rings.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 27, 2023In the 1950s, a Chanel bag was priced between $200 and $300. The iconic Chanel 2.55 bag cost $220 when first introduced in February 1955. Accounting for inflation, that works out to around $2,536 in today's money. On 1stDibs, find a diverse assortment of Chanel bags from some of the world's top boutiques.
Read More
You Don’t Need a Fictional Fairy to Get This Real Pinocchio Lamp
Warm chalet style meets cool Bauhaus functionality in Pietro Cascella’s cleverly carved creation.
Why Is Italy Such a Hotbed of Cool Design?
Patrizio Chiarparini of Brooklyn’s Duplex gallery sheds light on the lasting legacy of Italy’s postwar furniture boom.
With a High-Tech Flagship and Cool Collabs, Lladró Is Breaking the Mold for Porcelain Production
Thanks to its new leadership, the Spanish maker of figurines, busts and lighting is on a mission to update the art of porcelain for the 21st century.
Christopher Tennant’s Lamps and Dioramas Evoke Sunny Days and Seaside Locales
The former magazine editor blends elements of the Far East and America’s eastern shores, bringing wit and delight to his handmade, upcycled designs.
Paavo Tynell’s Snowflake Chandelier Warms Up Any Room
This circa 1950 piece by the legendary Finnish lighting designer spent the past several decades in a family's home in Michigan.
NASA Parachutes Inspired Lighting Designer Bec Brittain’s New Collection
In "Paraciphers," now on view at Emma Scully Gallery in New York, Brittain introduces works that were more than a decade in the making.
This Handsome Leather Pendant Light Is Crafted Using Saddle-Making Techniques
The Doma by L’Aviva Home nods to Colombia’s equestrian heritage.
Celebrate Spring Year-Round with This Lush Murano-Glass Chandelier
Hand-blown glass makes the Italian fixture glow like dew-covered leaves in the sun.