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Signal Lantern

1954 English Ship's Signal Lantern by Davey
1954 English Ship's Signal Lantern by Davey

1954 English Ship's Signal Lantern by Davey

Located in Norwell, MA

This is a hand held copper Signal lantern with Fresnel lens and a thumb operated shutter to send

Category

Vintage 1950s Lanterns

Antique Marine Signal Lantern by Charles Picard
Antique Marine Signal Lantern by Charles Picard

Antique Marine Signal Lantern by Charles Picard

Located in Norwell, MA

Marine and railway signal lantern by Noted French maker. The embossed makers badge reads

Category

Antique 1850s European Lanterns

Materials

Brass, Copper, Iron

Chalwyn Green Railroad Kerosene Signal Lantern with Burner, England
Chalwyn Green Railroad Kerosene Signal Lantern with Burner, England

Chalwyn Green Railroad Kerosene Signal Lantern with Burner, England

Located in Doylestown, PA

Collectible vintage Chalwyn green railroad kerosene signal lantern, made in England. Lantern is

Category

Mid-20th Century English Lanterns

Materials

Metal

Antique Illinois Central Railroad Signal Lantern by Dressel Arlington NJ
Antique Illinois Central Railroad Signal Lantern by Dressel Arlington NJ

Antique Illinois Central Railroad Signal Lantern by Dressel Arlington NJ

Located in Westfield, MA

Illinois Central Railroad, the lantern features its original multi-colored signal lenses, including a rich

Category

Early 20th Century American Lanterns

Materials

Steel

Solid Brass Ships Navigational Signal Lantern
Solid Brass Ships Navigational Signal Lantern

Solid Brass Ships Navigational Signal Lantern

Located in Norwell, MA

Highly polished mast mounted ships navigational signal lamp that would be used to send signals by

Category

Vintage 1940s Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass

Pair of American Polished Steel and Fresnel Lense Railroad Lanterns, C. 1880
Pair of American Polished Steel and Fresnel Lense Railroad Lanterns, C. 1880

Pair of American Polished Steel and Fresnel Lense Railroad Lanterns, C. 1880

Located in Charleston, SC

Pair of American polished steel railroad Signal lanterns with flanking hinged doors, scrolled

Category

Antique 1880s American American Empire Lanterns

Materials

Steel

Pair of American Polished Steel and Fresnel Lenses Railroad Lanterns, C. 1880
Pair of American Polished Steel and Fresnel Lenses Railroad Lanterns, C. 1880

Pair of American Polished Steel and Fresnel Lenses Railroad Lanterns, C. 1880

Located in Charleston, SC

Pair of American polished steel railroad Signal lanterns with flanking hinged doors, scrolled

Category

Antique 1890s American American Empire Lanterns

Materials

Steel

Large Copper and Brass Ship's Port Lantern Light by Meteorite Birmingham England
Large Copper and Brass Ship's Port Lantern Light by Meteorite Birmingham England

Large Copper and Brass Ship's Port Lantern Light by Meteorite Birmingham England

By Meteorite

Located in Hamilton, Ontario

Large early 20th Century Antique British solid copper and brass nautical Port signal lantern/lamp

Category

Early 20th Century English Lanterns

Materials

Brass, Copper

Italian Railway Manual Oil Lamp, 1920s Table Oil Lamp
Italian Railway Manual Oil Lamp, 1920s Table Oil Lamp

Italian Railway Manual Oil Lamp, 1920s Table Oil Lamp

Located in Vigonza, Padua

Antique Railway OIL LAMP with GREEN - RED SIGNAL - and Signal Lantern - FS BRAND - Early 1900's in

Category

Early 20th Century Italian Industrial Lanterns

Materials

Iron

Copper & Brass Light
Copper & Brass Light

Copper & Brass Light

$1,100

H 18 in Dm 11 in

Copper & Brass Light

Located in Norwell, MA

Solid copper signal lantern with curved Perspex lens with brass bars. Copper carry handles

Category

Vintage 1930s European Lanterns

Materials

Brass

Antique Lantern Signaling Lamp, White-Red-Green, Italy Railway, Still Working
Antique Lantern Signaling Lamp, White-Red-Green, Italy Railway, Still Working

Antique Lantern Signaling Lamp, White-Red-Green, Italy Railway, Still Working

Located in Vigonza, Padua

Italian manual oil lantern for signaling for railway station chief, white-red-green state railway

Category

Early 20th Century Italian Other Lanterns

Materials

Brass

Antique Japanese Copper Bullseye Railway Boat Lantern Police Signal Oil Lamp 13"
Antique Japanese Copper Bullseye Railway Boat Lantern Police Signal Oil Lamp 13"

Antique Japanese Copper Bullseye Railway Boat Lantern Police Signal Oil Lamp 13"

By Nippon Sento Company Ltd

Located in Dayton, OH

Antique copper police/ railroad / boat signal lantern / hand lamp. Features cylindrical body style

Category

Early 20th Century Candle Lamps

Materials

Copper

Distress Signal Onion Lamp
Distress Signal Onion Lamp

Distress Signal Onion Lamp

$834

H 18 in Dm 13 in

Distress Signal Onion Lamp

Located in Norwell, MA

Distress signal onion lamp, painted black by Perko. Brass top, red globe. Electrified. Dimensions

Category

20th Century Lanterns

Vintage Adlake RR Lantern, 1945-1965
Vintage Adlake RR Lantern, 1945-1965

Vintage Adlake RR Lantern, 1945-1965

$300

H 9.25 in W 7 in D 6.25 in

Vintage Adlake RR Lantern, 1945-1965

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

, to give a stop signal, the lantern would be swung back and forth horizontally across the tracks and

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lanterns

Materials

Metal

2 Antique Brass Canal Railway Converted Oil Lamp Candle Lanterns Sconces 9"
2 Antique Brass Canal Railway Converted Oil Lamp Candle Lanterns Sconces 9"

2 Antique Brass Canal Railway Converted Oil Lamp Candle Lanterns Sconces 9"

Located in Dayton, OH

Pair of electric wall sconces made from converting antique brass canal / railway signal / carriage

Category

Early 20th Century Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Recent Sales

Vintage Nautical Brass Signal Lantern
Vintage Nautical Brass Signal Lantern

Vintage Nautical Brass Signal Lantern

Unavailable

H 25.5 in Dm 19 in

Vintage Nautical Brass Signal Lantern

Located in Heath, MA

attentively restored. This circa 1940 maritime lantern has a tempered glass lens, working brass signal

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Industrial Lanterns

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Signal Lamps/Lanterns
Signal Lamps/Lanterns

Signal Lamps/Lanterns

Unavailable

H 21 in Dm 10.5 in

Signal Lamps/Lanterns

Located in New Orleans, LA

A pair of English Railroad lamps/lanterns, c1920-1935. Could be converted into hanging lanterns or

Category

20th Century English Lanterns

Materials

Metal

Antique DAVEY of London Nautical Signal Lamp
Antique DAVEY of London Nautical Signal Lamp

Antique DAVEY of London Nautical Signal Lamp

Unavailable

H 14.5 in Dm 7.5 in

Antique DAVEY of London Nautical Signal Lamp

By Davey & Co.

Located in Palm City, FL

Presented is a marine oil fired signal lamp made by the famous Davey & Co., London. It’s quality

Category

Vintage 1950s English Lanterns

Materials

Copper, Brass

1960s Vintage Manual Marine Searchlight Type 135
1960s Vintage Manual Marine Searchlight Type 135

1960s Vintage Manual Marine Searchlight Type 135

Unavailable

H 19.69 in W 7.88 in D 11.03 in

1960s Vintage Manual Marine Searchlight Type 135

Located in Warsaw, PL

. Production: 1960s. Manufacturer: FAMOR Bydgoszcz - a company producing headlights, signalling and signal

Category

Vintage 1960s Polish Industrial Nautical Objects

Materials

Aluminum, Iron

Antique Train Lantern Lamp
Antique Train Lantern Lamp

Antique Train Lantern Lamp

Unavailable

H 33 in W 9.5 in D 9.5 in

Antique Train Lantern Lamp

Located in Culver City, CA

signal train lantern was converted into an electric lamps with two light sources; the red lens light from

Category

Mid-20th Century German Industrial Table Lamps

Materials

Metal

Polished Steel Ships Signal Lantern
Polished Steel Ships Signal Lantern

Polished Steel Ships Signal Lantern

Located in Norwell, MA

Steel cased ships lantern with brass and copper elements. Copper bars protect the ruby red Fresnel

Category

Vintage 1950s North American Lanterns

Materials

Steel

Copper Signal Lantern by Davey of London
Copper Signal Lantern by Davey of London

Copper Signal Lantern by Davey of London

Located in Norwell, MA

Solid copper highly polished and lacquered ships signal lantern with brass makers badge from Davey

Category

Vintage 1950s Nautical Objects

Materials

Copper

Early 20th Century French Brass and Copper Railroad Signal Lantern
Early 20th Century French Brass and Copper Railroad Signal Lantern

Early 20th Century French Brass and Copper Railroad Signal Lantern

Located in Fayetteville, AR

Originally used for signaling, this French brass and copper railroad lantern from the early

Category

Early 20th Century French Lanterns

Materials

Brass, Copper

Vintage Swedish Novelty Decanter - Nautical / Railway Signal Lantern c.1950
Vintage Swedish Novelty Decanter - Nautical / Railway Signal Lantern c.1950

Vintage Swedish Novelty Decanter - Nautical / Railway Signal Lantern c.1950

Located in Bath, GB

bottle or decanter within in the form of a Marine or Railway Signal Lantern The underside is where the

Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Silver Plate

Wm Harvie Copper Signal Ship Lantern
Wm Harvie Copper Signal Ship Lantern

Wm Harvie Copper Signal Ship Lantern

Sold

H 24.5 in W 11 in D 11 in

Wm Harvie Copper Signal Ship Lantern

By W. M. Harvie Co.

Located in Montreal, QC

A copper and brass signal light by William Harvie & Co Ltd, Glasgow, numbered 6620, constructed in

Category

Antique Early 1900s Scottish Lanterns

Materials

Copper

Aluminum Marine Signal Beacon
Aluminum Marine Signal Beacon

Aluminum Marine Signal Beacon

Sold

H 27 in Dm 13 in

Aluminum Marine Signal Beacon

Located in Norwell, MA

Polished aluminum nautical beacon light mounted to a custom wood pedestal. There is a carved rope border on the bottom of the base. Pleasant aqua blue lens. Circa 1960 Weight: 21 ...

Category

Vintage 1960s North American Lanterns

Materials

Aluminum

Late 19th Century French Copper Railroad Lantern
Late 19th Century French Copper Railroad Lantern

Late 19th Century French Copper Railroad Lantern

Located in Fayetteville, AR

Originally used for signaling, this French copper railroad lantern from the late nineteenth century

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Lanterns

Materials

Copper

Vintage Elgin Kerosene Lantern, Early 20th Century
Vintage Elgin Kerosene Lantern, Early 20th Century

Vintage Elgin Kerosene Lantern, Early 20th Century

By Elgin American Mfg Co.

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

lantern would be swung back and forth horizontally across the tracks and the signal to proceed was to move

Category

Early 20th Century American Lanterns

Materials

Metal

Solid Copper Ships Signal Lantern
Solid Copper Ships Signal Lantern

Solid Copper Ships Signal Lantern

Sold

H 18 in W 8 in D 8 in

Solid Copper Ships Signal Lantern

Located in Norwell, MA

Solid copper ships signal lantern with hinged top, carry handle and fresnel lens. Wired for home

Category

Vintage 1940s Nautical Objects

Materials

Copper

Antique Canadian National Railway Piper Signal Lantern
Antique Canadian National Railway Piper Signal Lantern

Antique Canadian National Railway Piper Signal Lantern

Located in Hamilton, Ontario

This antique railroad lantern was made by the Hiram L. Piper Company of Canada and date to

Category

Early 20th Century Canadian Art Deco Lanterns

Materials

Metal

Antique Copper and Brass Ship's Masthead Lantern Light Nippon Sento Co. Japan
Antique Copper and Brass Ship's Masthead Lantern Light Nippon Sento Co. Japan

Antique Copper and Brass Ship's Masthead Lantern Light Nippon Sento Co. Japan

By Nippon Sento Company Ltd

Located in Hamilton, Ontario

This is a large vintage solid copper and brass nautical 203 Mast head Light, Maritime signal

Category

Vintage 1940s Japanese Lanterns

Materials

Brass, Copper

Ruby Red Marine Lantern Lamp
Ruby Red Marine Lantern Lamp

Ruby Red Marine Lantern Lamp

Sold

H 31 in W 12 in D 12 in

Ruby Red Marine Lantern Lamp

Located in Norwell, MA

Fine old maritime Signal lantern with rich ruby red lens with protective iron cage, vented top

Category

20th Century Table Lamps

Extraordinary American Adlake Railroad Signal Lighting Lantern
Extraordinary American Adlake Railroad Signal Lighting Lantern

Extraordinary American Adlake Railroad Signal Lighting Lantern

Located in South Burlington, VT

Rare nostalgic Chicago railroad lantern opportunity. An original fine quality signed Railroad

Category

20th Century Chinese Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Iron

Vintage Signal Oil Lantern with 4 Colored Glass Panels
Vintage Signal Oil Lantern with 4 Colored Glass Panels

Vintage Signal Oil Lantern with 4 Colored Glass Panels

Located in Leuven , BE

Lovely small vintage square signal oil lantern featuring four orange, blue, red and white tinted

Category

Early 20th Century Belgian Table Lamps

Materials

Metal

Antique Signal Lantern
Antique Signal Lantern

Antique Signal Lantern

Located in San Francisco, CA

A great old signal lantern used on the railroads.

Category

Antique 19th Century American Lanterns

Materials

Metal

Old Railroad Signal Lamp
Old Railroad Signal Lamp

Old Railroad Signal Lamp

Sold

H 22 in W 7.5 in D 7.5 in

Old Railroad Signal Lamp

Located in Wainscott, NY

Early Railroad Signal Lantern converted into a Lamp, Swivels on wood base, 2 Amber and 2 Green

Category

Antique 19th Century American Table Lamps

1920s Perko Marine Lantern
1920s Perko Marine Lantern

1920s Perko Marine Lantern

Sold

H 19.5 in Dm 11.75 in

1920s Perko Marine Lantern

Located in San Francisco, CA

lanterns, chart cases, signaling devices, etc. This lantern, made of heavy-gauge brass, copper, and

Category

Early 20th Century American Lanterns

Materials

Copper

Iconic Tower of the Old North Church Painting
Iconic Tower of the Old North Church Painting

Iconic Tower of the Old North Church Painting

Located in San Francisco, CA

high two lanterns as a signal from Paul Revere that the British were marching to Lexington and Concord

Category

Vintage 1930s American Decorative Art

Materials

Metal

Nautical Brass Ship's Signaling Lantern
Nautical Brass Ship's Signaling Lantern

Nautical Brass Ship's Signaling Lantern

Sold

H 22.5 in W 15.5 in D 19 in

Nautical Brass Ship's Signaling Lantern

Located in Heath, MA

A solid brass daylight signaling lamp salvaged from a Japanese naval vessel and attentively

Category

Late 20th Century Japanese Industrial Nautical Objects

Materials

Brass, Iron

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Signal Lantern For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the signal lantern you’re looking for. Frequently made of metal, glass and brass, every signal lantern was constructed with great care. There are many kinds of the signal lantern you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 19th Century to those made as recently as the 20th Century. When you’re browsing for the right signal lantern, those designed in Industrial styles are of considerable interest. Many designers have produced at least one well-made signal lantern over the years, but those crafted by Davey & Co. and W. M. Harvie Co. are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much is a Signal Lantern?

Prices for a signal lantern start at $159 and top out at $6,500 with the average selling for $799.

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.