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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 a softback lamp shade?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 19, 2021A softback lampshade is made by gathering or stretching the outer fabric over a metal frame. This fabric is then cut off, stitched, and finished at the top and bottom of the frame. These shades are often created with a process that involves tucks, pleats, gathers, or smoking. On 1stDibs, find a variety of antique and vintage softback lamps.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021The color of your lampshade is totally up to you. The more sheer the lampshade, the brighter the light will be.
- What is a mica lamp shade?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Mica is a natural mineral that is mined from the earth and then formed into sheets. These sheets can then be handcrafted into lamp shades, which when illuminated, emit a warm earthy glow. Shop a collection of mica lamps from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 24, 2021Yes, you can paint a glass lamp shade. You can use glass paints or acrylic paint to give old glass fixtures an inexpensive makeover. You can also use stencils for added visual appeal. Find a variety of lamp shades on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Banker’s lamps are green because it was believed that the color would be mentally soothing to encourage concentration. It was also thought to reduce eye strain. You can shop a selection of banker lamps from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 21, 2024For a 22-inch lamp, the size of shade that you should consider is around 7 to 7.5 inches in height. Generally, a lampshade should be one-third of the height of a lamp. Its diameter should be twice as wide as the width of the base. On 1stDibs, explore a diverse assortment of table lamps.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021There are three main lamp shade fittings. Spider fittings which are most commonly used for table and floor lamps, uno fittings and clip-on fittings.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 19, 2021White color lamp shades go well with polished brass, whereas off-white or cream-colored lamp shades look better with antique brass. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of vintage and antique lampshades to meet any style or décor scheme.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Using a lampshade as a guide, line up a row of pre-drilled capiz shells until you reach the desired length. String them together by using a fishing line and finish by tying the strands onto the lamp shade. Alternatively, shop a selection of capiz shell items on 1stDibs.
Read More
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.
Celebrate Spring Year-Round with This Lush Murano-Glass Chandelier
Hand-blown glass makes the Italian fixture glow like dew-covered leaves in the sun.