There is a range of metal figural lamps for sale on 1stDibs. Frequently made of
metal,
glass and
stone, all metal figural lamps available were constructed with great care. Metal figural lamps have been made for many years, and versions that date back to the 19th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 21st Century.
Art Deco,
Mid-Century Modern and
Neoclassical metal figural lamps are consistently popular styles. Metal figural lamps have been a part of the life’s work for many furniture makers, but those produced by
Aristide de Ranieri,
Max Le Verrier and
Aladdin Co. are consistently popular.
Metal figural lamps can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price at 1stDibs is $1,383, while the lowest priced sells for $300 and the highest can go for as much as $9,500.
Antique table lamps became a category of their own once electricity moved light off the wall and onto furniture. The form split quickly: task-driven designs like the Anglepoise on one side, decorative ceramic and glass on the other.
Styles to Know
Base material shapes the light as much as the shade does: ceramic and glass diffuse a softer glow, while brass and metal read more directional. Layer the look with a mid-century modern floor lamp for ambient light, or set a pair on a mid-century modern nightstand for a bedroom.
How to Choose the Right Vintage Table Lamp
Buying individually rather than as a pair allows more flexibility when mixing eras across a room. For those shopping by name rather than by shape, the history of the Anglepoise lamp is worth a read. Each piece comes from a vetted 1stDibs seller, with era, designer and condition detailed, and the 1stDibs Promise stands behind every purchase.