Oil Lamps

About Antique Oil Lamps

An oil lamp is any vessel that holds oil, with an absorbent wick that sits in the oil and can be lit, producing heat or light. Until the 1800s various candles, pitch oil lamps, and animal fat lamps were common. Once the development of kerosene made mass producing lamps profitable, oil lamps were fabricated from metal, glass, porcelain, and other ceramics.

Collectors often focus on a lamp's chimney or shade. Earlier chimneys were hand blown, free-form, and these limited-production chimneys with peddle tops and frothed or etched designs are more scarce and in demand than later machine-made examples. Typically oil lamp manufacturers made the metal parts (the base and burner) and bought the glass elsewhere. Holmes Booth and Haydens, for example, would buy glass shades from companies like Fostoria or Consolidated...

Shades were made with a wide variety of materials. There were the plain opal shades made with milk glass, which was utilitarian and inexpensive. There was case glass, really two different layers of glass with the inside white to reflect more light and the outside colored (the green and white combination is quite common). There were art glass shades: satin glass, amberina, cranberry, and mother of pearl. They were more expensive back then and command high prices today.

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Continue reading

Interviews & Articles

An Interview With Antique Lamp Collector Dan Edminster

My grandparents were antique collectors all their lives, their whole house was furnished in antiques. They ha… [more]

Lamps and Illuminants

Among old-time lamps there are certain types that mark changes in the manner of living or that are representa… [more]

Lamps for The Early American

When one considers that man is the one animal who depends on artificial light for getting about in the dark,… [more]

An Interview With 1950s TV Lamp Collector Mark Stevens

What got me interested in TV lamps?  I’ve always had an interest in the tackier artifacts of the 1950s and… [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

CollectLamps.com

CollectLamps.com

Interested in antique oil lamps? This site is a great place to learn more about their history, and scroll through b… [read review or visit site]

Neustadt Tiffany Collection

Neustadt Tiffany Collection

This stunning gallery of 138 Tiffany lamps and lampshades, part of the Dr. Egon Neustadt Collection presented by th… [read review or visit site]

The Lampworks

The Lampworks

Lamp collector and dealer Dan Edminster has put together an incredible reference site on antique lamps and related … [read review or visit site]

Classic Modern

Classic Modern

Get a taste of how homes were lit in the 50s, 60s, and 70s with the Danish retro-style lighting designs featured on… [read review or visit site]

Texans Incorporated: The History of a Lamp Company

Texans Incorporated: The History of a Lamp Company

Mark Stevens has created an impressive living memorial to Texans Inc., a 20th century Texas manufacturer of ceramic… [read review or visit site]

The Lamps of H. G. McFaddin

The Lamps of H. G. McFaddin

Bruce Bleier's tribute to the Emeralite and Bellova lampshades made from Czech glass and popularized and distribute… [read review or visit site]

Fairy Lamp Club

Fairy Lamp Club

This incredible site is a stunning showcase for Victorian and contemporary fairy lamps, a style of lamp with a glas… [read review or visit site]

Gas Pressure Lanterns, Lamps and Stoves

Gas Pressure Lanterns, Lamps and Stoves

Terry Marsh’s beautiful showcase of gas-pressure lanterns, lamps, stoves, irons, and heaters from the 1920s o… [read review or visit site]


Got a site to suggest? Let us know.




Clubs & Associations: Lamps


Other Great Reference Sites: Lamps

Are we missing one? Tell us.

Top eBay Auctions  Help | Get weekly Oil Lamps email

Sorted by        
Hinks / Messenger Victorian Antique Banquet Oil Lamp$1,014 Ends Saturday 18 bids 42 watchers
1860’s Victorian Ribbon Core Base Astral Oil Lamp$737.50 Ends Tuesday 14 bids 38 watchers
Antique Oil Lamp Amethyst Cut To Clear 1850-1860$665.00 Ends Sunday 16 bids 44 watchers
Superb Large Victorian Cranberry Duplex Oil Lamp Shade$489.05 Ends Tuesday 7 bids 16 watchers
Antique Cranberry Opalescent Kerosene/ Oil Lamp$475.00 Ends Sunday 11 bids 46 watchers
Pair 1912-14 Hupmobile Script Adlake Oil Side Lamps$400.00 Ends Sunday 9 bids 4 watchers
Superb Victorian Etched Cranberry Duplex Oil Lamp Shade$323.88 Ends in 19 hours 10 bids 47 watchers
Exremely Rare 1880 Double Arm Peg Font Hanging Oil Lamp$280.00 Ends Sunday 16 bids 74 watchers
Antique Victorian Cranberry Red Swirl Gwtw Oil Lamp $275.00 Ends Sunday 2 bids 1 watcher
Old Antique Cranberry Hobnail Hanging Oil Lamp Shade $256.56 Ends Tuesday 8 bids 54 watchers
Very Rare Kerosene Oil Lamp Gilded Ball Shade -flowers$255.00 Ends in 2 hours 2 bids 39 watchers
Adlake Oil Can Side Lamps For Ab Mack - With Brackets!!$250.00 Ends in 22 hours 1 bid 7 watchers
Rare Antique Circa 1830 Sandwich Mercury Glass Oil Lamp$249.99 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 1 watcher
Maritime Nautical Perko Masthead Oil Lantern Lamp $230.50 Ends in 19 hours 8 bids 25 watchers
Mckee Greentown Wild Rose Festoon Oil Lamp Chocolate$225.00 Ends Thursday 1 bid 11 watchers
Superb Antique Pink Miniature Oil Lamp - Hulsebus 380$204.29 Ends Monday 14 bids 37 watchers
Antique Oil Cigar Lamp Lighter Bronze Vvrare Blacksmith$199.00 Ends Monday 1 bid 13 watchers
Antique Oil Cigar Lamp Lighter Bronze Vvrare Blacksmith$199.00 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 12 watchers
Rare Blue Bakelite Aladdin Bell Shape Kerosene Oil Lamp$185.87 Ends Tuesday 6 bids 48 watchers
Rare Vintage Coal Miners Mining Oil Wick Teapot Lamp$182.45 Ends Wednesday 3 bids 37 watchers
Superb Ornate Cranberry / Pink Oil Lamp Base $181.04 Ends Monday 5 bids 39 watchers
Antique Oil Hanging Lamp Nice$165.00 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 10 watchers
Antique Mechanical Brass Whale Oil Or Kerosene Lamp$161.50 Ends Sunday 5 bids 15 watchers
Pair Of Deep Etched Gladiator Gas Or Oil Lamp Shades$155.00 Ends in 23 hours 6 bids 22 watchers
Gwtw Banquet Oil Kerosene Jeweled Lamp Ball Globe Shade$152.50 Ends Thursday 3 bids 41 watchers
Victorian Hanging Oil Lamp Pat.1876 Estate Fresh Orig. $150.52 Ends Wednesday 8 bids 15 watchers
Aladdin Majestic Green Moonstone B-122 Oil Lamp 1935-36$138.50 Ends Wednesday 4 bids 14 watchers
Extra Fancy S-133 Miniature Victorian Kerosene Oil Lamp$132.00 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 20 watchers
Old 1893 Naugatuck Oil Lamp Sailboat Porcelain$127.50 Ends Sunday 8 bids 22 watchers
Aladdin Hanging Oil Lamp Model 4 Art Glass 206 Shade$127.50 Ends Sunday 7 bids 36 watchers
Antique Gone With The Wind Oil Parlor Lamp Electric Exc$125.00 Ends in 22 hours 1 bid 24 watchers
Kerosene Oil Hanging Lamp Shade$113.50 Ends Sunday 3 bids 23 watchers
Messengers S / Plated Oil Lamp Base & Cut Glass Font $111.43 Ends Thursday 4 bids 26 watchers
1880s Hanging Oil Light Lamp Red Pink Opalescent Shade$111.11 Ends Sunday 6 bids 42 watchers
Antique Hanging Oil Lamp Shade 14",dog & Elk Hunt Scene$111.11 Ends Monday 3 bids 39 watchers
Antique Eapg Cobalt Blue Glass Finger Oil Kerosene Lamp$106.00 Ends Sunday 11 bids 35 watchers
1845-65 Sandwich 'comet' Variant Whale Oil Finger Lamp$103.82 Ends Sunday 2 bids 35 watchers
Hobbs Cranberry Opalescent Snowflake Kerosene Oil Lamp$103.50 Ends Sunday 8 bids 27 watchers
19c B & H Gwtw Banquet Oil Kerosene Jeweled Lamp Base$103.49 Ends Thursday 2 bids 38 watchers
Cranberry Hobnail Lampshade & Electrified Oil Lamp Base$102.51 Ends Monday 11 bids 16 watchers
Anchor Hocking Early American Prescut Eapc Oil Lamp$102.50 Ends in 23 hours 9 bids 24 watchers
1890s Hanging Oil Lamp Light Huge Opalescent Ball Shade$102.50 Ends Sunday 7 bids 51 watchers
Aladdin Lamp Oil Kerosene Moonstone Orig Paper Shade$101.10 Ends Friday 3 bids 8 watchers
1893 World’s Fair New York Yankees Blue Font Oil Lamp$100.99 Ends Sunday 16 bids 27 watchers
Twisted Brass Harp Oil Lamp With Green Cased Shade$100.00 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 3 watchers
Emerald Green Glass Aladdin Kerosene Oil Lamp Complete$99.99 Ends Tuesday 11 bids 16 watchers
Old Pink Mellon Student Oil Lamp Shade - Triple Cased $99.99 Ends Sunday 1 bid 10 watchers
Antique Ruby/cranberry Cast Iron Base Kerosene/oil Lamp$98.67 Ends Sunday 3 bids 29 watchers
Antique Gone With The Wind Kerosene Oil Lamp~bird-flora$95.00 Ends in 20 hours 1 bid 5 watchers
Vintage Copper Ship Boat Yacht Navigation Oil Lamp 1924$93.01 Ends in 20 hours 6 bids 54 watchers
Aladdin Quilt Jade Green Kerosene Oil Lamp$91.00 Ends Monday 8 bids 36 watchers
World’s Fair Saint St. Louis Amber Foot Oil Lamp Set 2$89.99 Ends in 4 hours 10 bids 16 watchers
S- 388 "florette" Victorian Miniature Antique Oil Lamp $89.88 Ends Sunday 3 bids 34 watchers
Aladdin Black White Moonstone Glass Oil Lamp & B Burner$89.00 Ends Tuesday 6 bids 19 watchers
Antique Imari Porcelain Faience Oil Lamps Lanterns Nr!$89.00 Ends Sunday 13 bids 20 watchers
Maritime Nautical Perko De-lite Ship Oil Lantern Lamp $86.00 Ends in 19 hours 11 bids 29 watchers
Old Glass Finger Type Oil Lamp W/globe - Very Unusual$86.00 Ends in 23 hours 12 bids 30 watchers
Aladdin Cathedral Oil Lamp Amber Crystal 1934 Style 109$85.50 Ends Sunday 17 bids 18 watchers
S- 489 (l) Figuralvictorian Miniature Antique Oil Lamp $85.00 Ends Thursday 1 bid 4 watchers
Large American Antique Student Oil Lamp$84.71 Ends in 13 hours 4 bids 29 watchers

»» Get our weekly Oil Lamps email
Right now on eBay



Recent News: Oil Lamps

Source: Google News

The One Where Joe Jackson and Everyone Else Is Or Has A Dick
Gawker, November 7th

Nederlander had to let him down that he hasn't lived in that oil lamp for at least thirty years now, and hey, I was talking about one of these, okay?...Read more

An adventure that gives back to the community
Irish Times, November 6th

There is something indescribably rejuvenating about spending time in such areas, where light is provided by candle or oil lamp and water is fetched from a...Read more

Garden Collection by Stone Forest
Lawn & Landscape, November 4th

Wabi Stone Oil Lamp: Stone Forest's Wabi Stone Oil Lamp brings instant ambiance to garden settings without breaking the bank. These solid granite lamps...Read more

YARD SALES
People's Tribune, November 3rd

Old tiffany lamp leaded shed, six gal. stone jar, old milk pitchers, old blue oil lamp, other marquis Waterford dish; lots of Avon, new in box including...Read more

Parlor vase lamps were stylish, efficient
Press of Atlantic City, October 30th

It was given to me by a woman who would be more than 100 years old now, and she believed it is an oil lamp that has been electrified...Read more

Obama adds sparkle to Diwali celebrations
Express Buzz, October 15th

President Barack Obama, accompanied by Hindu Priest Sri Narayanachar Digalakote, uses a candle to light an oil lamp. AP WASHINGTON: The White House's East...Read more

Obama marks Diwali, reaches out to Asian Americans
AFP, October 14th

Obama became the first US president to personally take part in a White House ceremony for the festival of lights, lighting a "diya" oil lamp inside the...Read more

Penny Lane Fine Arts & Antique
Antiques and the Arts Online, October 11th

2 bronze oil lamp, Fire truck pedal car, pair of porcelain lamps with angel figures, pair of Made in France bronze and Parian lamps, large Italian designer...Read more

Lamps

See also

Tools