Antique Satsuma Lamps
Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Ceramics
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Brass
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Antique 19th Century Japanese Table Lamps
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Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Table Lamps
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Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Antiquities
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Antique 19th Century Japanese Anglo-Japanese Ceramics
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Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Ceramics
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2010s Swedish Vases
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Early 20th Century European Arts and Crafts Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal, Bronze, Brass
Mid-20th Century Japanese Chinoiserie Table Lamps
Porcelain, Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century Japanese Meiji Scholar's Objects
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Table Lamps
Hardwood, Porcelain, Linen
20th Century Chinese Table Lamps
Porcelain, Wood
Late 20th Century Table Lamps
Bronze
Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Metalwork
Metal, Enamel
Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Lanterns
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Chinese Mid-Century Modern Vases
Ceramic
Antique 19th Century French Late Victorian Candelabras
Ormolu
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century Japanese Japonisme Ceramics
Ceramic
Mid-20th Century Japanese Japonisme Table Lamps
Bronze
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
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Antique 19th Century Japanese Table Lamps
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Japanese Table Lamps
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20th Century Japanese Table Lamps
Ceramic
Antique 19th Century Japanese Table Lamps
Wood, Paper, Porcelain
Antique 19th Century Japanese Table Lamps
Porcelain
Antique 19th Century Japanese Japonisme Vases
Porcelain
Antique 1880s English Arts and Crafts Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Early 20th Century Asian Table Lamps
Ceramic, Pottery
Antique 19th Century Japanese Table Lamps
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Japanese Table Lamps
Brass
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Table Lamps
Brass, Enamel
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Porcelain, Silk
Antique Mid-19th Century Japanese Edo Ceramics
Ceramic, Pottery
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Brass
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.
- What is an antique student lamp?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertJune 15, 2023An antique student lamp is a desk lamp that features a tube-shaped stem and one or two arms. Each arm has its own shade. The design of the student lamp allows it to direct light downward onto a surface for reading. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of student lamps.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023One of the simplest ways to identify an antique lamp is to look for markings that indicate the maker. Then, you can research the artisan or company that made the lamp using trusted online resources to see when they were active. Some antique lamps may have a date stamp on the shade or the bottom of the body of the lamp. Plugs can also provide a clue. Plugs on antique and vintage fixtures may feature exposed screws or prongs that are the same size. Prongs on newer lamps are usually two different sizes. Keep in mind that an antique lamp could have undergone a cord replacement, so what you see may not be an original. When in doubt, you can consult a certified appraiser or experienced antiques dealer for information about specific pieces. Shop a selection of antique lamps on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The best way to determine the age of porcelain lamps is to work with an appraiser. While some online resources can be helpful when you’re looking for information about the value of an item, the suggested value you find may not be the actual value of your item, since that will depend on a number of factors, including the shape it’s in. You’ll find expertly vetted porcelain lamps and other decor on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022There are a few key things to look for to identify an antique oil lamp. First check for a patent number anywhere on your lamp. Use a black light to inspect whether your lamp’s hardware is secured with glue, which fluoresces and would indicate a contemporary lamp. Antique lamps use plaster to attach hardware and fill gaps. An antique oil lamp may have hand-blown glass. Shop a range of professionally authenticated antique oil lamps on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023A number of things can make an antique lamp valuable. The lamp’s maker is a major determining factor. Pieces made by Tiffany Studios, Baccarat, Handel and Pairpoint are frequently sought by collectors and are generally worth more than others. The style and condition of the piece will also affect how much it's worth. You can enlist the help of a certified appraiser or experienced antiques dealer for assistance evaluating a particular lamp. Shop an assortment of antique lamps from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
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