Antique Toleware Lamp
20th Century Empire Table Lamps
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Metal
Antique Mid-19th Century American Colonial Decorative Boxes
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Metal
Vintage 1960s Italian Hollywood Regency Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal
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21st Century and Contemporary American Wall Lights and Sconces
Metal, Brass, Nickel
Early 20th Century Unknown Regency Table Lamps
Metal, Brass
Vintage 1940s French Table Lamps
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century American Chinoiserie Tea Caddies
Tin
Recent Sales
Vintage 1910s French Neoclassical Table Lamps
Brass
Antique 1840s Italian Renaissance Table Lamps
Pine
Vintage 1930s American Arts and Crafts Lanterns
21st Century and Contemporary American Late Victorian Chandeliers and Pe...
Alabaster
Mid-20th Century French French Provincial Table Lamps
Metal, Brass
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal
Vintage 1960s German Hollywood Regency Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal
Early 20th Century European Louis XVI Pedestals
Marble
Late 20th Century Italian Hollywood Regency Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Metal
Vintage 1970s American French Provincial Table Lamps
Brass, Metal
Antique 1890s British Country Table Lamps
Tin
Late 20th Century Chinese Table Lamps
Enamel
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 Toleware lamp?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A Toleware lamp is a floor or tabletop light fixture made of tin metal that shows off a painted lacquered finish. The type of lighting was popular during the early 20th century. Find a collection of Toleware 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 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.
Read More
Ettore Sottsass Captures a Shooting Star in This Rare 1970s Floor Lamp
Before founding the Memphis Group, Sottsass bent the rules of lighting design with the wonderfully wavy Cometa.
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.