Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
1910s American Arts and Crafts Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Iron, Brass
1910s American Arts and Crafts Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Iron, Brass
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Brass
1920s American Edwardian Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Metal
1920s English Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Brass
Early 20th Century Art Deco Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Brass
Early 20th Century British Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Brass
Early 20th Century British Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Brass
Early 1900s Austrian Jugendstil Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Brass
Early 20th Century British Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Brass
Early 20th Century British Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Silver Plate
Early 1900s English Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Bronze
1920s French Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Marble, Bronze
1920s American Industrial Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Metal
1910s Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Bronze
1920s British Industrial Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Brass
1920s American Industrial Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Iron
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Brass, Spelter, Copper
Early 20th Century British Industrial Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Steel
Early 20th Century American Industrial Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Steel
Early 20th Century German Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Enamel, Iron
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Brass
19th Century French Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Metal
1850s American Mid-Century Modern Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Brass
19th Century Mexican Modern Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Onyx
1920s French Art Deco Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Metal
Early 1900s Dutch Art Nouveau Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Brass
Mid-19th Century Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Brass, Metal
Early 20th Century Polish Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Metal
1860s French Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Tôle
1680s Italian Mid-Century Modern Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Metal
1920s American Industrial Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Metal, Steel
Early 20th Century American Industrial Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Brass, Iron
1910s British Victorian Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Brass
Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Brass
Early 20th Century French Empire Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Bronze
1890s Italian Modern Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Metal
1920s German Art Deco Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Bakelite
Early 1900s French Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Bronze
Early 20th Century American Industrial Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Steel
Late 19th Century Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Marble, Bronze
Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Bronze
1920s French Bauhaus Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Aluminum
Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Nickel
Early 20th Century Art Deco Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Chrome
Early 20th Century Dutch Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Chrome
Early 20th Century German Bauhaus Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Metal
1850s European Bauhaus Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Bakelite
19th Century French Empire Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Bronze
1920s German Industrial Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Steel
Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Brass
1920s British Art Deco Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Brass
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Wrought Iron
Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Metal, Brass, Steel
1910s American Arts and Crafts Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Bronze
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Metal
Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Bronze
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Bronze
Mid-19th Century British Industrial Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Metal, Iron
Early 20th Century Arts and Crafts Antique Desk Lamp Lamps
Brass
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Antique Desk Lamp Lamps For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Antique Desk Lamp Lamps?
Finding the Right lighting for You
The right table lamp, outwardly sculptural chandelier or understated wall pendant can work wonders for your home. While we’re indebted to thinkers like Thomas Edison for critically important advancements in lighting and electricity, we’re still finding new ways to customize illumination to fit our personal spaces all these years later. A wide range of antique and vintage lighting can be found on 1stDibs.
Today, lighting designers like the self-taught Bec Brittain have used the flexible structure of LEDs to craft glamorous solutions by working with what is typically considered a harsh lighting source. By integrating glass and mirrors, reflection can be used to soften the glow from LEDs and warmly welcome light into any space.
Although contemporary innovators continue to impress, some of the classics can’t be beat.
Just as gazing at the stars allows you to glimpse the universe’s past, vintage chandeliers like those designed by Gino Sarfatti and J. & L. Lobmeyr, for example, put on a similarly stunning show, each with a rich story to tell.
As dazzling as it is, the Arco lamp, on the other hand, prioritizes functionality — it’s wholly mobile, no drilling required. Designed in 1962 by architect-product designers Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, the piece takes the traditional form of a streetlamp and creates an elegant, arching floor fixture for at-home use.
There is no shortage of modernist lighting similarly prized by collectors and casual enthusiasts alike — there are Art Deco table lamps created in a universally appreciated style, the Tripod floor lamp by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Greta Magnusson Grossman's sleek and minimalist Grasshopper lamps and, of course, the wealth of mid-century experimental lighting that emerged from Italian artisans at Arredoluce, FLOS and many more are hallmarks in illumination innovation.
With decades of design evolution behind it, home lighting is no longer just practical. Crystalline shaping by designers like Gabriel Scott turns every lighting apparatus into a luxury accessory. A new installation doesn’t merely showcase a space; carefully chosen ceiling lights, table lamps and floor lamps can create a mood, spotlight a favorite piece or highlight your unique personality.
The sparkle that your space has been missing is waiting for you amid the growing collection of antique, vintage and contemporary lighting for sale on 1stDibs.
- What is a good desk lamp?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertSeptember 28, 2021A good desk lamp is going to make a substantial difference in any home, office or studio. The ideal desk lamp should provide apt task lighting, be easy to use, and also be aesthetically pleasing. Find a wide range of unique and elegant desk lamps on 1stDibs today.
- What is the best desk lamp?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 26, 2021The best desk lamp is a matter of preference — the right fixture can help you work more efficiently while also reducing eye strain. LED desk lamps in the 2700K to 4500K color temperature range often provide a warm and pleasing light under which to work. Shop a collection of antique, vintage, and modern desk lamps from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.
- Who invented the desk lamp?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2024
No one knows for sure who invented the desk lamp, as many engineers worked on designs for lamps during the 1920s. Many experts cite the Anglepoise lamp, however, as the earliest iteration of the modern desk lamp. Since its 1934 debut, this ingenious task light has become one of the most celebrated examples of industrial design.
How the Anglepoise came to be is the stuff of design legend: In 1932, a vehicle-suspension engineer by the name of George Carwardine joined forces with a West Midlands springs manufacturer, Herbert Terry & Sons, to create a mechanism by which opposed springs would, as Carwardine explained, exert a “unidirectional constant force” on a pivoted lever that could counteract the force of gravity.
This invention was not destined for an auto but for a lamp Carwardine was developing. The innovation would allow the piece’s articulated arm to be moved with ease to almost any position and remain there. As the product of engineering acumen rather than fashion, the Anglepoise soon became a favorite among modernist architects and designers, who interpreted it as “a machine for lighting,” just as Le Corbusier had reimagined the house as “a machine for living in.”
The Angelpoise's rivals include the 1930 Bestlite, which was one of the earliest Bauhaus-influenced designs, created by Robert Dudley Best, who had studied under Walter Gropius at the Bauhaus in Dessau. German modernist Karl Trabert’s 1930s desk lamp for Schanzenbach & Co. was notable for its domed shade above a hinged arm.
Find vintage table lamps and other lighting on 1stDibs. - 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.
- What is the best LED desk lamp?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 5, 2021There are many types of best LED desk lamps for your home — it's really a matter of preference. On 1stDibs, there are modern, mid-century modern desk lamps and other lighting to choose from.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The desk lamps with the green shade are called banker’s lamps. Banker’s lamps are green because it is believed the color helps to encourage concentration and is mentally soothing. It is also said that green helps with eye strain. You can shop a selection of banker’s lamps from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022British designer George Carwardine designed the Anglepoise desk lamp. Before creating the light fixture, he worked as an engineer designing automobile suspension systems. The first Anglepoise lamps debuted in 1931. You can find a variety of Anglepoise desk lamps 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 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.
- 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.
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.