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H 9.25 in W 8 in D 3.5 in
Antique Art Nouveau Tiffany Studios Nautical Seashell & Bronze Lamp, c 1920
By Tiffany Studios
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique figural ARt Nouveau table or desk lamp by Tiffany Studios offers Nautilus shell shade surmounting cast bronze base with seahorses in the rolling ocean waves, stamped "Tiff...
Bronze
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H 8.67 in W 8.67 in D 5.52 in
French Riviera and Palm Beach Regency style seashell table lamps, France, 1950s
By Tiffany Studios
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
The lamp holder is on the base and hide inside the seashells to provide a very special, cozy, warm and multicolored lighting effect.
Brass
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.
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