Find a variety of vessel lamps available on 1stDibs. The range of distinct vessel lamps — often made from
ceramic,
metal and
porcelain — can elevate any home. We have 456 antique and vintage vessel lamps in-stock, while there are 12 modern editions to choose from as well. Vessel lamps have been produced for many years, with earlier versions available from the 18th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 21st Century. There are many kinds of vessel lamps to choose from, but at 1stDibs,
mid-century modern,
Victorian and
modern vessel lamps are of considerable interest. Some vessel lamps are too large for some spaces — a variety of smaller vessel lamps, measuring 2.76 inches across, are available at 1stDibs. Vessel lamps have been a part of the life’s work for many furniture makers, but those produced by
Marcello Fantoni,
Michael Andersen & Son and
Ferdinand Barbedienne are consistently popular.
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.