Skip to main content

Table Lamps

706
54
8
to
6
618
139
768
725
739
391
86
82
17
15
7
4
4
2
2
1
1
2
51
653
62
25
407
126
4
2
5
22
42
135
184
118
7
Height
to
Width
to
616
190
36
35
34
34
33
33
33
33
33
33
416
376
268
164
95
534
313
261
162
157
20
12
12
11
8
Table Lamps For Sale
Color:  Brown
Recognized Seller Listings
Maurizio Tempestini Desk Lamp
Located in San Francisco, CA
A desk lamp for Lightolier that has been rewired for use in the United States. Often attributed to Maurizio Tempestini.
Category

1960s Finnish Modern Vintage Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Jane & Gordon Martz, Table Lamps, Walnut, Ceramic, Linen Marshal Studios, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of walnut and ceramic table lamps designed by Jane & Gordon Martz. Produced by Marshall Studios, Veedersburg, Indiana, c. 1955. Bases are sculpted walnut, with ceramic inlays...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Table Lamps

Materials

Ceramic, Walnut

Swedish Designer, Table Lamp, Solid Teak, Sweden, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A solid teak cube / square table lamp designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1950s. Sold without lampshade. Measurements listed are of lamp only. For reference Shade : 4 x 8.25 ...
Category

1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Table Lamps

Materials

Teak

Pair of Antique Chinese Orange and Gold Floral Round Porcelain Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Pair of antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) round table lamps made from orange, luster porcelain vases with gold floral designs, mounted on brown wooden bases with patinated brass h...
Category

Early 19th Century Chinese Export Antique Table Lamps

Materials

Ceramic

Pair of English Regency Style Gilt and Tole Hurricane Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Pair of English Regency style (1960s) large beige tole & gilt decorated hurricane form table lamps with a shaped glass center between a square base & a top section having a pineapple...
Category

20th Century British Regency Table Lamps

Materials

Tôle

Svend Aage Holm Sørensen, Table Lamp, Brass, Rattan, Denmark, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A brass and rattan table lamp designed and produced by Svend Aage Holm Sørensen, Denmark, 1950s. Sold with lampshades. Stated dimension...
Category

1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Cressida Bell - 'Quercus' Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Hand-painted wooden base table lamp with matching shade adorned with different shades of blue, gold, and black. Cressida Bell is a British designer spec...
Category

2010s British Post-Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Cressida Bell - 'Trafalgar' Pair of Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Pair of hand-painted column table lamps with a blue base color adorned with gold and black circular patterns. Cressida Bell is a British designer specia...
Category

2010s English Post-Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Cressida Bell - 'Harlequin' Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Giant Urn Lampbase with Matching Shade Hand-painted giant urn lamp base with matching shade adorned with different shades of purple, dark blue, and yellow. Cressida Bell...
Category

2010s British Post-Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Bay Table Lamp
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Bay table lamp is a breathtaking masterpiece by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis (1983). Fabricated from tiers of colored perspex plastic & colored and w...
Category

1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Table Lamps

Materials

Crystal

Vistosi Tread LT Table Lamp Murano Blown Glass with Gold Base
Located in Mogliano Veneto, Treviso
The “technicity” of the metal element combined with the blown glass diffuser gives tread an “industrial” style. An object reminiscent of vintage electrical equipment for its particul...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Wood

Swedish Designer, Table Lamp, Pine, Sweden, c. 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A pine table lamp designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1970s.
Category

1970s Swedish Modern Vintage Table Lamps

Materials

Pine

Gabriella Crespi Rare 'Fungo' Table Lamp in Bamboo and Brass, Italy, 1970s
Located in New York, NY
Gabriella Crespi rare 'Fungo' table lamp from the Rising Sun Series with lacquered bamboo strips and polished brass details on dome shade atop elegant flared brass base, Italy, 1970s...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Böhlmarks 'Attribution', Table Lamp, Brass, Sweden, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A brass table lamp attributed to Böhlmarks, Sweden, 1940s. .
Category

1940s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Swedish Designer, Large Table Lamp, Teak, Brass, Sweden, 1960s
Located in High Point, NC
A large teak and brass table lamp designed and produced in Sweden, 1960s. Dimensions of Lamp (inches): 24.5” H x 4.75” Diameter Dimensions of Shade (inches): 9” Top Diameter x 12” B...
Category

1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Swedish Designer, Table Lamps, Pine, Sweden, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of pine table lamps designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1970s. Dimensions of Lamp (inches): 13.5” H x 6.5” Diameter Dimensions of Shade (inches): 8” Top Diameter x 10” Bottom...
Category

1970s Swedish Vintage Table Lamps

Materials

Pine

Brutalist Ceramic Lamp, France circa 1970
Located in Culver City, CA
Brutalist Ceramic Lamp France circa 1970 15”dia x 59.5”h
Category

20th Century French Table Lamps

Materials

Ceramic

Pair of Stilarmatur Tranås Table Lamps in Teak, Sweden, 1960s
Located in The Hague, NL
This elegant pair of table lamps was produced by AB Stilarmatur Tranås in Sweden in the 1960s. Made of teak wood, the circular bases have an inte...
Category

1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Table Lamps

Materials

Fabric, Teak

American Designer, Pair of Table Lamps, Wood, United States, 1960s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of wooden table lamps designed and produced in the United States, 1960s. Sold without lampshade. Dimensions of lamp (inches) :...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Table Lamps

Materials

Wood

Copper and Wood Art Deco Table Lamp, Europe ca 1930s
Located in Utrecht, NL
The European Art Deco movement of the 1930s was a beacon of innovation and style, and one of its timeless creations was this copper and wood table lamp. This exquisite piece of funct...
Category

1930s European Art Deco Vintage Table Lamps

Materials

Copper

Murano Glass Table Lamp by La Murrina, Italy, 1970s
Located in Milan, IT
Marvelous glass table lamp by La Murrina. Big round shape with amazing bubble texture, the use of glass laden with bits of metal adds a vibrant character to the light. Please note th...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Table Lamps

Materials

Glass

Brass table lamp, anonymous, Denmark, 1960s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Table lamp, anonymous, Denmark, 1960s. Brass. H: 61 cm Base diameter: 21.5 cm Shade diameter: 31 cm
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Table Lamp Model #5066 by Paavo Tynell for Taito Oy
Located in San Francisco, CA
Table lamp by Paavo Tynell for Taito Oy A rare table lamp made in the 1940s for "Taito," Finland. The lamp has a brass base, wood stem, and a pleated silk shade...
Category

1940s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Horse Bust Table Lamp, Signed Gucci, 1970s
Located in Palm Desert, CA
This is lamp is a wonderful example of the creativity of the House of Gucci a real powerhouse for design in the 1970s. A beautifully carved wooden horse bust that rests in a brass ov...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Pair of Sang de Boeuf Porcelain Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Of ovoid form; mounted on a turned giltwood base. Note: Height to Top of Vase: 12.5 inches
Category

20th Century American Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Vistosi Jube Table Lamp in Smoky Transparent Glass And Matt Gold Finish
Located in Mogliano Veneto, Treviso
The elegant and delicate look of the blown glass finds a new dimension in Jube. Two glass units placed side by side, so perfectly assembled, that they look like a unique piece. A sin...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Glass

Vivai del Sud Mid-Century Italian Pencil Reed Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Mid-Century (1970s) Italian table lamp composed of pencil reed in a tapered circular form with extended brass stem and light switch socket, resting on a flattened bottom with an inse...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal, Brass

Aneta, Table Lamp, Solid Pine, Rattan, Sweden, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A table lamp designed and produced by Aneta. In solid pine. With makers label. Condition: Good Wear consistent with age and use. Dimensions of Lamp (inches): 12” H x 7.75” Diamete...
Category

1970s Swedish Modern Vintage Table Lamps

Materials

Rattan, Pine

Table Lamp Model 2468 Designed by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1950s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Table lamp model 2468 designed by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1950s. Brass with cotton shades. Stamped. Model 2468 is a delightful brass table lamp with three small shades in green, yellow, and red. The lamp has an elegant brass base with three stems that hold the shades at different heights. Because of its tricolour shades, it is known as the “traffic light lamp”. Designed by Josef Frank in the 1950s, this lamp has become a timeless Svenskt Tenn collectable. H: 54 cm W: 42 cm Shade D: 15 cm Josef Frank was a true European, he was also a pioneer of what would become classic 20th century Swedish design and the “Scandinavian Design Style”. Austrian- born Frank started his design career as an architect after having trained at the Technische Hochschule in Vienna between 1903 and 1910. After his training he went on to teach at Kunstgewerbeschule (The Viennese School of Arts and crafts) where he developed and espoused the new school of modernist thinking towards Architecture and Design that was coming to fruition in Vienna at the time. He also went on to lead the Vienna Werkbund throughout the 1920s. This was a truly progressive group of Architects and Designers who set about improving the daily lives of Austrian people through modernist design and architecture in partnership with Arts and Crafts ideals and construction. Frank’s leadership of the Werkbund had already cemented his place at the forefront of European design. Frank’s time in Vienna was typified by his design for the “Die Wohnung” exhibition of the Deutscher Werkbund in Stuttgart, 1927 where he exhibited along side his contemporaries at the forefront of design, such as the likes of Le Corbusier and Walter Gropius. Here he showed a specially designed pair of flat-roofed reinforced concrete houses in what is now seen as a typical modernist style. What separated Frank’s house from the other 32 houses of the exhibition was the interior and furniture inside the building. It was described as “Neo-Classical” and filled with an eclectic mix of period pieces, modern design and pieces designed by Frank himself that seemed to cross the two worlds. This was a complete opposite direction to that which his fellow Architects were travelling in with their pared back and angular aesthetics. Frank said of his own work: “The house is not a work of art, simply a place where one lives,” and by this reasoning Frank rejected the regimental mechanisation of the living space that his contemporaries believed in, instead he set about creating congenial and spontaneous interiors. Frank’s practice saw him placing the bright colours and the soft forms of nature back into the furnishings and interiors that he thought modernism sorely mist. Frank, along with Oskar Walch set up Haus und Garten in Vienna in 1925. This was Frank’s first commercial foray into furniture and home furnishings and the company went on to become the most influential furnishing house in Vienna with a riotous depth of colour and interesting shapes becoming the trademark of their design. However this success was to come to an end with rise of Nazism in Vienna in the early 1930’s. Frank was Jewish, and he and his wife Anna decided they would leave Vienna for her motherland: Sweden, in 1933. Frank continued to design for Haus and Garten, visiting Vienna occasionally and designing the pieces that would continue to be the company’s best sellers long after Frank was forced to hand the company over in 1938 after the Third Reich annexation of Austria. When Josef and Anna had moved to Sweden Frank had struck up a working relationship with Design shop owner Estrid Ericson. Ericson was the proprietor of Svenskt Tenn that at this point was a successful interiors shop in Stockholm with the royal warrant of appointment to the Swedish Royal Household. In 1935 Frank had become the chief designer for Svenskt Tenn and had set about putting all of his creative effort into his designs for the company. At the World Expositions in Paris in 1937 and New York in 1939 the world saw for the first time the wealth of products that Frank had been working on, ranging from candlesticks to cabinets, there was not a domestic object that Frank had not subjected to his colourful, comfortable and organic style of Modernism. Frank’s new school of Modernism championed ideas such as chairs having a freeing, open back and that “If one desires the room to be comfortable…all pieces of furniture should allow for a free view of the separating line between the floor and the wall. A cabinet without legs breaks this line and thus reduces the feeling of space.” A world-wide audience tired of classic Modernism’s furniture with solid planes and aggressive forms leapt upon these ideas and Franks natural and bright designs for Svenskt Tenn became internationally desired. Frank created over 2000 designs for Svenskt Tenn and his products continue to be the core of their brand. Frank’s rejections of tubular metal and heavy lacquers within his furniture have insured his unique light form of Modernism continues to influence and flourish today. His natural toned mahogany and walnut pieces along with his tactile leather covered and brightly shaded lighting still bring the forms of nature back into the home. Original Frank pieces are now increasingly rare, highly desirable and are the epitome of “Scandinavian Design”. Renowned Designer and Academic Isle Crawford...
Category

1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Hand Carved Walnut Lamp, France 1960's
Located in New York, NY
Solid walnut table lamp, hand-carved with asymmetrical windowed shapes, certainly by a master woodworker; signature on the base is unidentified. Size is of the base only. No shade in...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Wrought Iron Table Lamp with Chain Links, France 1960s
Located in Utrecht, NL
This individualistic table lamp is a Brutalist piece from the 1960s with a characteristic design that is sure to stand out. The style is similar to that of Franz West with wrought ir...
Category

1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Table Lamps

Materials

Wrought Iron

Jan Wickelgren Curved Brass Table Lamp for Aneta Belysning AB, Sweden, 1970s
Located in Utrecht, NL
Aneta Lighting AB was established in 1947, and over the years, the company has collaborated with Swedish designers to create cosy, timeless lamps. Among them was Jan Wickelgren, whos...
Category

1970s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Franco Albini, Franca Helg & Antonio Piva "AM/AS" Table Lamp, Italy 1960s
Located in Utrecht, NL
Minimal in form from concept to design, this historical lamp emerged from a traditional Italian craftsmanship practice. Using modern, artisanal materials for the design the designers...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Table Lamps

Materials

Metal

Brass, Oak and Glass Table Lamp by Boréns, Borås, Sweden 1940s
Located in Utrecht, NL
Characterized by clean lines, quality woods, soft edges and intuitive functionality, the Swedish Modern lighting models of Boréns Borås are eternally timeless and timely. This specif...
Category

1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Bent Karlby, Table Lamp, Brass, Lacquered metal, Teak, Lyfa, Denmark, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A modernist table lamp. Designed by Bent Karlby for Lyfa. Features a finely tapering rod. Other designers of the period include Paavo Tynell, Alvar Aalto, Kaare Klint, Josef Fran...
Category

1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Art Deco Table Lamp in Vermilion Orange Lacquered Beech Wood, Austria, 1930s
Located in The Hague, NL
This striking Art Deco table lamp was produced in Austria in the late 1930s. The design is marked by the elegant shape of the beech base which has been finished in a vermilion (red/o...
Category

1930s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Table Lamps

Materials

Fabric, Wood, Beech

Swedish Grace Table Lamp in Carved Wood, Svenskt Tenn Shade, Sweden, 1930s
Located in The Hague, NL
This elegant table lamp was hand made in Sweden in the early 1930s. The design is marked by the base in black lacquered birch wood. The sphere shape with intricate, hand carved deta...
Category

1930s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Table Lamps

Materials

Cotton, Linen, Birch

Pair of Similar Harvey Probber American Gilt Metal Moroccan Drum Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
PAIR of similar midcentury American gilt metal Moroccan Style table lamps; the taller in hour glass form and the shorter, barrel-shaped. Both feature cylindrical wood stems, brass sp...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal, Brass

Ugo Zaccagnini for Marbro Midcentury Italian Ceramic Western Zhou Dynasty Style
Located in New York, NY
Midcentury Italian ceramic ancient Chinese Western Zhou Dynasty-style ceramic table lamp in Archaistic square form with concave neck and extended brass stem plus a tapered cylindrica...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal, Brass

Mid-Century American Ceramic Orange and Brown Lava Drip Glazed Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Mid-Century American ceramic table lamp in globular form tapering toward the top, housing a brass stem with functioning light switch socket plus harp. The orange lava drip glaze enve...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal, Brass

Pair of Marbro Mid-Century American Glass Iridescent Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
PAIR of Mid-Century (1950s) American iridescent green / blue / purple glass table lamps in spired globular form with towering functional brass light switch...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal, Brass

Paul McCobb for Pomona Tile Manufacturing Company American Triangular Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Mid-Century American (1950s) table lamp in triangular form from the Distinguished Designer Series featuring an extended silver metal stem plus three functioning light switch sockets ...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal

Carstens Mid-Century West German Ceramic Taupe Fat Lava Glazed Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Mid-Century (1960s) West German ceramic table lamp fired in Fat Lava glaze featuring an extended brass stem with functioning light swit...
Category

20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal, Brass

Powell Style Teak Table Lamp, USA 1960's
Located in New York, NY
Turned teak table lamp in the style of Philipp Lloyd Powell, rewired with a keyed socket and a silk cord. The base only is 20". No shade is included
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Ugo Zaccagnini Mid-Century Italian Ceramic Tall Urn Table Lamp on Wood Stand
Located in New York, NY
Mid-Century Italian ceramic tall urn table lamp in ovoid form Hollywood Regency Style with a flattened concave neck and tapered ringed top, turned...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal, Brass

Mid-Century American Ceramic Fat Lava Style Glazed Cone Table Lamp on Wood Base
Located in New York, NY
Mid-Century American ceramic cone form table lamp tapered toward the top, housing a brass stem with functioning light switch socket, the body bathed in a thick fat lava-style drip gl...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal, Brass

Mid-Century Modern Table Lamp by Hans-Agne Jakobsson, Sweden, 1950s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Pair of striking desk lamps by Hans-Agne Jakobsson, with teak stems and lacquered white shades and bases. Decorative brass details.
Category

1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Table Lamps

Materials

Metal

Pair of Marianna von Allesch for Carola German Ceramic Abstract Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
PAIR of Mid-Century German ceramic table lamps in abstract organic form with extended brass functioning light switch sockets (one with beaded pulls and new sockets) plus tapered cera...
Category

20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal, Brass

Pair of Frederick Cooper American Plaster Parcel Gilt Baluster Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
PAIR of midcentury American cast plaster table lamps in elaborate baluster form, both with extended brass stems and functioning beaded light switch sockets, molded in neoclassic scro...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal, Brass

Pair of Mid-Century American Ceramic Texture Banded Brown and Beige Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
PAIR of Mid-Century American ceramic table lamps in textured banded barrel form with flattened rounded shoulders tapering toward cylindrical necks which house brass spindle stems, bo...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal, Brass

Pair of Maison Jansen French Petrified Wood Table Lamps on Black Lacquered Bases
Located in New York, NY
PAIR of midcentury French (1970s) table lamps with polished petrified wood in irregular oval slices mounted rectangular black lacquered bases. (att: Maison Jansen) (PRICED AS PAIR).
Category

20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal, Bronze

Seguso Midcentury Italian Hand Blown Twisted Glass Orange and Pink Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Midcentury Italian hand blown glass table lamp with a cylindrical banded brass nonfunctioning light socket, twisted body comprised of transparent orange and pink stripes and resting ...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal, Brass

Barovier and Toso Italian Handblown Green Glass Hourglass Form Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Mid-Century Italian handblown green glass table lamp in hourglass form, wired to a brass stem and nonfunctioning cupped light switch socket protruding from the top. The transparent g...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal, Brass

Swedish Designer, Table Lamp, Solid Pine, Sweden, c. 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A solid pine table lamp designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1970s. Sold with lampshade. Dimensions of lamp (inches) : 11.125 x 7.0625 x 7.0625 (H x W x D) Dimensions of shade (...
Category

1970s Swedish Modern Vintage Table Lamps

Materials

Pine

Ugo Zaccagnini Italian Ceramic White Glazed Urn Table Lamp on Light Wood Base
Located in New York, NY
Mid-Century Italian ceramic urn repurposed as a table lamp in footed ovoid form with cylindrical neck topped by a ceramic banded sphere finial and a circular 3-way nonfunctioning whi...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal, Brass

Midcentury French Oak Twist Candlestick Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Mid-Century French candlestick table lamp featuring a carved oak twisted stem with embedded nonfunctioning brass light socket and harp, mounted on a graduate...
Category

20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Brass, Metal

American Stoneware Ceramic Tall Spindle Table Lamp w/ Blue Matte Glaze
Located in New York, NY
Mid-Century American stoneware ceramic tall spindle table lamp with a double waisted flared neck tapering to an extended brass stem, harp and functioning...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal, Brass

Pair of Midcentury American Ceramic Ribbed Gourd Large Green Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
PAIR of midcentury American ceramic celadon green glazed large table lamps with extended silver metal stems, brass harps and functioning light switch sockets, topped by shaped cerami...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Metal, Brass

Antique and Vintage Table Lamps for Sale: Find Art Deco Table Lamps, Murano Glass Table Lamps and Other Lighting on 1stDibs

Well-crafted antique and vintage table lamps do more than provide light; the right fixture-and-table combination can add a focal point or creative element to any interior.

Proper table lamps have long been used for lighting our most intimate spaces. Perfect for lighting your nightstand or reading nook, table lamps play an integral role in styling an inviting room. In the years before electricity, lamps used oil. Today, a rewired 19th-century vintage lamp can still provide a touch of elegance for a study.

After industrial milestones such as mass production took hold in the Victorian era, various design movements sought to bring craftsmanship and innovation back to this indispensable household item. Lighting designers affiliated with Art Deco, which originated in the glamorous roaring ’20s, sought to celebrate modern life by fusing modern metals with dark woods and dazzling colors in the fixtures of the era. The geometric shapes and gilded details of vintage Art Deco table lamps provide an air of luxury and sophistication that never goes out of style.

After launching in 1934, Anglepoise lamps soon became a favorite among modernist architects and designers, who interpreted the fixture as “a machine for lighting,” just as Le Corbusier had reimagined the house as “a machine for living in.” The popular task light owed to a collaboration between a vehicle-suspension engineer by the name of George Carwardine and a West Midlands springs manufacturer, Herbert Terry & Sons

Some mid-century modern table lamps, particularly those created by the likes of Joe Colombo and the legendary lighting artisans at Fontana Arte, bear all the provocative hallmarks associated with Space Age design. Sculptural and versatile, the Louis Poulsen table lamps of that period were revolutionary for their time and still seem innovative today

If you are looking for something more contemporary, industrial table lamps are demonstrative of a newly chic style that isn’t afraid to pay homage to the past. They look particularly at home in any rustic loft space amid exposed brick and steel beams.

Before you buy a desk lamp or table lamp for your living room, consider your lighting needs. The Snoopy lamp, designed in 1967, or any other “banker’s lamp” (shorthand for the Emeralite desk lamps patented by H.G. McFaddin and Company), provides light at a downward angle that is perfect for writing, while the Fontana table lamp and the beloved Grasshopper lamp by Greta Magnusson-Grossman each yield a soft and even glow. Some table lamps require lampshades to be bought separately.

Whether it’s a classic antique Tiffany table lamp, a Murano glass table lamp or even a bold avant-garde fixture custom-made by a contemporary design firm, the right table lamp can completely transform a room. Find the right one for you on 1stDibs.

Recently Viewed

View All