Steampunk style places emphasis on the bespoke, the recycled and the handmade, as well as high-quality materials and craftsmanship. Steampunk fans also share an interest in the industrial and in machines, especially steam-powered ones.
As a design concept, steampunk can feel elusive. Unlike movements such as Arts and Crafts or American Craftsman, which are rooted in specific historical periods, steampunk combines an imagined past with the present and sometimes even the future.
In the late 1980s, writer K. W. Jeter coined the term steampunk to describe his science-fiction stories, which were set in an idealized version of Victorian London. Since that time, steampunk has evolved, emerging as a design style and a subculture.
Since the mid-1990s, steampunk-styled settings and interiors have become popular in mainstream films such as Sherlock Holmes (2009) with Robert Downey Jr.; Van Helsing (2004), which starred Hugh Jackman; or the Will Smith vehicle Wild Wild West (1999). These movies present a contemporary version of the Victorian past. Steampunk elements, such as dark walls, industrial lighting, brass fittings and Edison bulbs, have also been featured in the designs of numerous restaurants.
When talking of steampunk, design professionals often emphasize the style’s industrial elements. Interior designer Stephen Shadley particularly likes steampunk’s inclusion of factory-style light fixtures. “The elegant simplicity of those fixtures, a white or clear glass shade on a brass base, the bakelite switch. They’re beautiful and functional,” he says. “Here, form follows function almost completely.”
One of the appeals of steampunk lies in its oppositions: domestic versus industrial, refined and polished versus coarse and gritty, Victorian versus new, fantasy versus reality. Because it is up to the individual designer to develop the right steamy mix, you will find a large range of steampunk looks.
A steampunk interior can appear much like the Victorian drawing room in your imagination — stately, restrained, proper — while at the same time containing contemporary comforts and conveniences. Another steampunk-style room can look more theatrical, much like the lair of a mad scientist. And, of course, objects with high steampunk quotient, such as brass light fixtures or Victorian scientific instruments, can add charm and interest to almost any set up.
Steampunk, by combining antique and contemporary and repurposing industrial items, offers a fresh way to enjoy Victorian style.
Find steampunk-style wall decorations, lighting, decorative objects and more on 1stDIbs.
Art Deco Machine Age Steampunk Table Lamp
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Art Deco machine age steampunk table lamp. Additional information: Materials: brass, bronze, lights, steel. Color: silver. Period: Early 20th century. Styles: Art Deco, Mid-Ce...
Brass, Steel
Iris Balance: Modern Brass Chandelier, Two Light Pendant, Sculptural Lighting
By lightexture
Located in Troy, NY
IRIS BALANCE • Modern Brass Chandelier Two Light Pendant • Sculptural Lighting The Iris Balance chandelier is composed of two Iris shades balancing off a black stained Australian w...
Brass
One off Kind Brass and Glass Chandelier, 18 Ornamental Glass Globes, Excellent
Located in Kansas City, MO
Stunning custom made, one of a kind sputnik style chandelier. Twelve long arms with six globes attached closer to the central hub. Measure: 34 inch diameter. No chips, cracks, repair...
Brass
Antique Victorian Industrial Fabric or Wallpaper Printing Roller Lamp
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Dating from the 1890s, this industrial fabric or wallpaper roller has been up cycled at some point in time into a table lamp. The roller itself is cl...
Metal
Antique Carriage Lamp by Brewster & C Mounted as a Steampunk Style Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Interesting Steampunk style table lamp, featuring a 19th C carriage lamp, later mounted as a table lamp. The carriage lamp bas a circular front lens, which is hinged and opens, and a...
Metal
French Mannequin Decoupage Sculpture, Floor Lamp
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
French Mannequin Decoupage Sculpture, Floor Lamp French floor Lamp, set on a marble and teak base supporting a shapely mannequin styled with Newsprint and a varnish finish, our Jaun...
Marble
Early 20th Century Steampunk Wrought Iron Church Chandelier
Located in Baambrugge, NL
Sturdy wrought iron art deco chandelier from the early 20th century, France. Steampunk style. With Edison light bulbs. The chandelier is re-wired and...
Wrought Iron
A Pair of Railway Look Bedside Lamps This is a very unusual pair of lights
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A Pair of Railway Look Bedside Lamps This is a very unusual pair of lights they are made in brass with wooden a base and designed like a 19th century candle lamp with a carrying han...
Brass
Vintage Nautical Search Lights or Floor lamp The Lamp is Large
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Vintage Nautical Search Lights or Floor lamp The Lamp is Large and set on a wooden tripod, it is fully tilting and swivelling The interior has a Edison screw bulb holder which has b...
Brass
One Off Kind Brass and Glass Chandelier, 18 Sputnik Style Arms, 25 Lights Total
Located in Kansas City, MO
Stunning custom made, one of a kind sputnik style chandelier. Eighteen arms and seven additional lights mounted to the central hub. 38 inch diameter. No chips, cracks, repairs or dam...
Brass
Queen Elisabeth Ships Valve Walnut Base Table Lamp Conversion MINT!
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Queen Elisabeth Ships Valve Walnut Base Table Lamp Conversion MINT!
Brass
$1,512 / set
A Pair of Copper Ships Style Hanging Lights
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A Pair of Copper Ships Style Hanging Lights The lamps are round with thick bowed and ridged glass, they are in the style of nautical pieces and have an authentic look A great pair o...
Glass
T Walker & Son LTD England Cherub Brass Marine Log Spinner, Lamp
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
T Walker & Son LTD England Cherub brass Marine log spinner, lamp Early 20th c log spinner set on a hand made teak base and made into a Lamp some years ago, This is a lovely decorative vintage Maritime lamp...
Brass
Hand Carved Ships Starboard Navigation Light.
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Hand Carved Ships Starboard Navigation Light. The lamp is flat sided with an original bowed and ridged glass front A great decorators piece the lamps is m...
Pine
Pair of Antique English Style Riding Boots as Table Lamps
Located in Mt Kisco, NY
A pair of English riding boots and there original boot trees mounted and wired as table lamps. Shades not included.
Leather, Wood
$9,100 / item
H 12 in W 42 in D 42 in
MONOLITH Classic Italian Modern Enamel and Brass Chandelier, Blueprint Lighting
By Stilnovo, Gino Sarfatti, Arteluce
Located in New York, NY
The chandelier that launched Blueprint Lighting! The Monolith is a commanding statement piece with design elements in the style of both Italian and French modernism—a go-anywhere design that plays well in both modern and traditional interiors. May be fabricated with any of our 36 enamel colors and 6 metal finishes (show in final images). DIMENSIONS: 42" diameter, shades are 11" tall. Overall height may be specified. This fixture uses 10 candelabra socket (E12) bulbs up to 60 watts each (or use LED replacements...
Chrome, Nickel, Bronze, Enamel, Aluminum, Brass
Antique Chinese Bronze Vessels Mounted as Lamps, a Pair
Located in Miami, FL
Antique Chinese bronze vessels mounted as lamps, a pair Offered for sale is a pair of antique Chinese bronze vessels mounted as lamps. ...
Bronze, Brass
Large Kalmar Chandelier, Brass and Textured Glass, 1950s
By Kalmar Lighting, J.T. Kalmar
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
An impressive handmade and large chandeliers by J.T. Kalmar, Austria, manufactured in midcentury, circa 1960 (late 1950s or early 1960s). The fixture is made of polished brass in a w...
Brass, Metal
Scolari Five, Arms Chrome and Fife Withe Opaline Glass Globes Chandelier
Located in Verviers, BE
5-arm chrome and opaline glass chandelier, 1960s Mid-Century Modern chandelier made in the 1960s. It has chrome arms, each with opaline glass shade in extraordinary shape. We...
Chrome
Midcentury Industrial Table or Hand Lamp, Czechoslovakia, 1960s
Located in Praha, CZ
- In original condition - Chrome and wood - Adjustable shade - Shade is put down for hand - Fully functional - Electric cable is 150cm.
Chrome
French Modernist Glass Globe Shaped Chandeliers one two or three
Located in New York City, NY
A modernist sphere of molded art glass eleven inches in diameter with diamond patterning gives the impression of finely cut crystal. Dropped from the ceiling on a single stem, from a simple concentrically round canopy; this chandelier is reminiscent of the Swarovski crystal ball...
Glass
$4,200 / item
H 36 in W 36 in D 30 in
Statement Lighting, Sculptural Bentwood Chandelier by Raka Studio
By Raka Studio
Located in Cape Girardeau, MO
A chandelier made in solid ashwood using wood bending techniques. A single light is placed in a wooden cocoon which releases light with linear gaps creating a distinct lighting ambia...
Bentwood
Guillerme & Chambron French Floor Lamp
Located in Miami, FL
Guillerme & Chambron French floor lamp, for Votre maison editeur. Glaze tiles by Danikowski, light oak and ceramic. 2 light, 100 watts max bulb.
Ceramic, Oak
Art Deco Modern Marble Table Lamps, Pair
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful pair of solid European Art Deco Modern period Carrara marble table lamps with brass detailing, circa 20th century. Lamps are predominately white marble with black and gre...
Marble, Carrara Marble, Brass
Regency Style Black Painted Tole Canister Mounted as Lamp
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Antique Black painted tole canister mounted as lamp with handsomely illustrative English coat of arms motif and Greek key borders, early 20th century. *S...
Metal
$3,990
H 41.34 in Dm 12.21 in
Florian Schulz Dome Pendant Light, Brass Counterweight Counter Balance, 1970
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
A height adjustable pendant lamp by Florian Schulz, Germany, manufactured in midcentury, circa 1970 (late 1960s or early 1970s). The fixture is made of solid polished brass which has...
Brass
Pair of Early 20th Century French Empire Marble Lamps
Located in Charlottesville, VA
Love these lamps. Substantial. Great looking.
Marble
Sold
H 22 in W 15 in D 12 in
Weathered Ships Masthead Copper Navigation Light. This is a large ships light
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Weathered Ships Masthead Copper Navigation Light. This is a large ships light, it has an addition to allow it to be used as an electrical lamp, the oil burner has been left intact s...
Copper
French Late 18th/ Early 19th Century Empire Chandelier
Located in New Orleans, LA
Grand scale for dramatic presence. Beautiful gilded anthimeons on top. Teardrop crystals adoring the bottom. Ornately detailed medallions are removable. Wired for US not UL listed.
Crystal, Brass
Articulated Hand Table Lamp
By Early Electrics Design Studio
Located in Peekskill, NY
These amazing desk lamps will become the focal point of any room it's placed in. It's a bit Steampunk, Adams family and the nightmare before Xmas rolled into one. All the joints incl...
Steel
Vintage Industrial Steampunk Rotating Gear Adjustable Brass Table Lamp
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Industrial Steampunk Rotating Gear Adjustable Brass Table Lamp This rustic, industrial, steampunk table lamp features an exposed cast i...
Brass
Rising and Lowering Large Brass Ceiling Light
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Rising and Lowering Large Brass Ceiling Light A very good quality lamp it is an excellent design for a dining room as it can be raised or...
Brass
19th Century English Dental Surgeon Floor Lamp, circa 1880
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT A 19th century English dental surgeon copper floor lamp. This lamp would have originally been a gas light and used outside the front door of the dental surgery of Mr. Bennett Edwards. It's complete with original wrought iron stand, two red etched...
Brass, Steel
Vintage Ribbon Glass Steel and Iron Gear Base Table Lamp Plug in
By Robert True Ogden
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This table lamp features a ribbon glass mirrored shade with an oil rubbed brass patina, vintage counter-balance weight and a vintage iron gear base. Vi...
Steel, Iron
Vintage Speckled Enamel Table Lamp Adjustable Steel Gear Plug in
By Robert True Ogden
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This one-of-a-kind table lamp if crafted with a vintage speckled enamel shade, steel stand and vintage iron base. Vintage gears are in place to lock the articulating arm and the adjustable stand that moves up and down. Newly built and wired with vintage pieces and parts sourced locally and abroad. Made by hand in Philadelphia, no two lamps are alike. Twisted, beige cloth-covered cord finished with a vintage-inspired Bakelite plug. Dimensions + Shade: 9.63" diameter + Articulating arm: 22.75" L + Base: 7.75" diameter + Height of adjustable stand: 23.25 - 40" + Cord length: 8' + Weight: 11 lbs Details + One of a kind + Articulating arm that locks into place + Adjustable stand + Vintage enamel...
Enamel, Steel, Iron
Vintage 1970s Rolex Brass Diving Helmet Lamp
By Rolex
Located in Sacramento, CA
Vintage steampunk lamp made from a 1970s Rolex brass diving helmet display, with a vintage iron base and unique details. A very unique piece, in ex...
Brass, Iron
Vintage Pink Glass and Steel Adjustable Floor Lamp
By Lostine
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Robert True Ogden's one-of-a-like Found Object Lamps are made by hand in Philadelphia. Crafted from pieces and parts sourced locally and abroad, no two lamps are alike. This floor ...
Steel
Vintage White Enamel and Steel Table Lamp
By Lostine
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Robert True Ogden's one-of-a-like found object lamps are made by hand in Philadelphia. Crafted from pieces and parts sourced locally and abroad, no two lamps are alike. This table lamp has a vintage enamel shade...
Enamel, Steel