Antique Lamps: Facts Every Collector Should Know!

Are you an antique lamp collector -- or would you likebecause they provide indirect bright light to a room
to be? Just looking for that special piece for youror area without the trouble of installing overhead
home or office? Whatever your needs and interests,fixtures. Most antique lamps are very ornate and
we have all the facts you need, not sales promotions!beautiful, though some are more austere and plain.
Honest information, simply presented.Antique brass floor lamps are very popular, since
Internet sites, antique stores, or even yard or garagethey are so very well made and sturdy. They usually
sales can be a gold mine for those who arerequire little in the way of renovation; some polishing
interested in antiques and collectables. For those withof the metal, updated wiring, and a shade may well
an interest in antique lamps, these arenas can yieldbe are all that is needed to make them fully
wonderful finds!functional and attractive. Art Deco lamps are sought
Antique lamp fixtures can be oil or electric, plain orafter, not only as fixtures, but because of the
ornate, but are almost always of high quality andintrinsic design value of that period. Art Deco lamps
make a beautiful addition to a room or house. Theare often made from brass, copper, mica, stained
banker's lamp, which is normally constructed of aglass, and other aesthetically pleasing materials.
brass post with a green or blue glass shade is one ofAntique porcelain lamps cross the gap between oil
the most popular antique lamps. There are manylamps and electric lamps. Some antique porcelain
reproductions available, though it is not difficult to findlamps are oil burning lamps. The most recognized of
actual antique models, since they were so popular.these porcelain lamps are built with a large globe on
Green glass shades are most common in reproductionthe bottom and a smaller globe on top. These are
lamps, but blue shades were quite common in theusually very decorative, with both globes painted.
original form.Electric antique porcelain lamps are usually table lamps
A very popular antique light is the porch lamp, whichand are still well known for having intricate painted
was originally used not on porches, but in carriages.designs (usually floral). Kerosene lamps are very
These lamps were usually cast from brass, orpopular, not only for their value as antiques, but also
wrought iron, or made of wood, and were mountedfor their beauty and sheer functionality.
on the carriage doors or side walls. The sturdyThe student lamp is one of the most popular antique
construction of carriage lamps makes them welloil lamps (from the late 1800's). These simple and
suited to porch lights. They are usually seen mountedcommon lamps were very popular as both single and
on either side of a door.double burner models. They were popular because
One of the later (or more modern) antique lampsthey threw provided good light and very little
that are popular today are the antique torchiere lamp,shadow, which made them ideal for their intended
the antique brass floor lamp, and the antique artpurpose as a reading and study lamp.
deco lamp. Torchiere lamps are still sought after