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Antique and vintage lamps span a broad spectrum, including well known-styles like Victorian and slag glass and leading names like Tiffany, Handel, and Aladdin. Values vary greatly and reproductions abound, so do your homework.
The earliest type of lamp, the oil lamp, was a simplistic vessel with an absorbent wick. These were mass-produced starting in the 19th century. Manufacturers typically made the metal base and burner and bought the glass from another manufacturer.
Between the 1840s and the early 1900s, during the Victorian era, oil lamps and candelabras coexisted with early electric lamps. In 1908, Aladdin Industries Inc. created the Aladdin lamp, an oil lamp so bright that no one was able to find another oil lamp that compared, despite Aladdin's offer of a thousand dollars if they could...
The biggest development in lamps toward the end of the 1800s was the growing popularity of ornate glass lampshades, often with floral imagery. Lamps started to become a decorative, rather than just functional, item. Slag glass (pressed glass with milky stripes), for example, became popular in England and America, and many lamp companies used it to create beautiful lamp shades.
Decorative table and floor lamps reached the height of their popularity in the U.S. in the first two decades of the 20th century, spurred by the success of Tiffany and its Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau competitors, like Handel.
Tiffany and others made bronze and gilt-bronze lamp bases, often simulating plants or tree trunks, and floral or other naturalistic art glass shades with colorful iridescent glass pieces leaded together. Thousands of Tiffany lamps were made, and they're highly collectible today. By the 1920s, many lamp designers had started to shift to Art Deco styles, characterized by angular lines and squared glass or paper shades. Also common were deco figural lamps with stems made to look like people.
Post WWII, mid-century lamps tended to be simpler (Eames), sillier (TV lamps) or groovier (lava lamps). Eames lamps were often made of metal and featured long, narrow, and sometimes wavy stems. Lamps with multiple bulbs and lamps with swiveling necks were also common. So-called TV lamps were also popular in the 1950s. Typically made of ceramic or plaster, these were backlit decorative sculptures created in the shape of animals, people, and plants.
Lava lamps, an icon of the 1960s and 70s, combined heated wax, chemicals, and dyed water to create lava-like imagery. Lava lamps were used more for decoration than for lighting.
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Interviews & Articles
Tiffany Lamp Appraiser Arlie Sulka: An Interview with Collectors Weekly
When I was an art history major in college, there were very few programs that had a concentration in the decorative arts. So when … [more]
Antique Oil Lamps and Chimneys
My grandparents were antique collectors all their lives, their whole house was furnished in antiques. They had a lot of oil lamps … [more]
Tacky Treasures: TV Lamps of the 1950s
I’ve always had an interest in the tackier artifacts of the 1950s and '60s. The cheesy stuff, the kitsch. Old B movies, monster an… [more]
Burglars Horror
Some years ago a police commissioner in a large city offered the practical suggestion that one small electric light bulb left on w… [more]
Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)
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]
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
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
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
Terry Marsh’s beautiful showcase of gas-pressure lanterns, lamps, stoves, irons, and heaters from the 1920s o… [read review or visit site]
Clubs & Associations: Lamps
Other Great Reference Sites: Lamps
Top eBay Auctions
Tiffany Studios 18" Geometric Leaded Glass Lamp Shade
Chinese Opium Lamp Silver Export 387 Gr Circa 1900 Dragons Chasing Pearl Moon.
Steuben Quezal, Tiffany Glass Artglass Lamp
Restoration Hardware Royal Master Sealight Floor Lamp
Tiffany Studios Bronze Table Lamp Base # 587
Pairpoint Puffy Lamp Reverse Painted Shade
*rare* Vintage Fenton Ruby Red Satin Glass~poppy Pattern Gwtw Lamp *excellent*
Fine Art Lamps Outdoor Light Post Chateau Rustic Iron 403983st
Antique Hanging Oil Lamp
Rare Edward Miller & Co. "galileo" Figural Oil Lamp
Rare Royal Worcester Figural Cricklite Fairy Lamp - Complete
Vintage Blenko Lp-17 Lamp - 1956 - Amber - Scarce!
Troika Helmut Lamp Base 'alison Brigden'
Fine American C1910 Riviere Studios Overlay Slag Glass Lamp W/ Miller Base Nr
Wedgwood Lamp, Blue Jasper By Harry Buten / Museum, Brass, Jasper Finial, C1970s
Vintage 40's Hula Girl Lamp
Excellent Original C1900 Tiffany Studios Bronze Lotus Flower Lamp Base Noreserve
Antique Chinese Opium Lamp
New Contemporary Crystal Ceiling Light Pendant Lamp Raindrop Chandelier Lighting
Antique Old Vintage Atrs & Crafts Handel Leaded Slag Stained Glass Lamp - Nr
Antique Slag Glass Lamp Reverse Painted 6 Panel Rose Pattern Columns Dual Light
Columbus Model 21 With Lamp And Ashtrays Ca 1934
Pr Leaded Stained Glass Art Deco Bronze Light Fixture Sconce Lamp Shades
100cm Modern Contemporary Crystal Pendant Lamp Ceiling Light Chandelier Lighting
O.c White Industrial Work Light Lamp Ball Joint Desk Wall Mount
Vintage Hanging Aladdin Lamp/light, All Original, Model 12, Large, Works Great
Gubi Grasshopper Floor Lamp Salmon Lighting Modern Dwr Design Within Reach
Vintage Fiber Optic Lamp By Fantasia 70's Mod Kinetic Space Age Op Art 
New Modern Contemporary Crystal Pendant Light Ceiling Lamp Chandelier Lighting
Gwtw Ormolu Metal Filigree Gone With The Wind Hurricane Lamp. 18-1900's
Antique Curved Slag Glass Table Lamp 10 + 10 Panel Shade 22 1/2" Wide
Rare 19th Cent. Banquet Lamp With Beautifully Painted Butterly Original To Shade
Modern Wave Crystal Pendant Light Ceiling Lamp Rain Drop Chandelier Led Lighting
New Large 12 Arm Vintage Victorian Glass Crystal Chandelier Light Lamp Ivory Big
Vintage 24% Lead Crystal Lamp With Hand Made Portobello Lamp Shade In Amethyst !
Harvard Student Lamp Rewired Electrified
Antique Czechoslovakia Beaded Glass Fruit Lamp C1920
Modern Crystal Pendant Light Ceiling Lamp Lighting Fixture Rain Drop Chandelier
Awesome Sandwich Glass Oil Lamp Light White Cranberry 1900s Marble Base 12" Tall
Rare Brass Optimus No 930 300 Cp Kerosene Lantern Lamp With Original Glass
Antique German Art Deco Katzhutte Lady Dancer Porcelain Figurine Ormolu Lamp 
Vintage Retro Le Smith Glass Moon & Star Amber Hanging Swag Lamp*prisms*1960"s
Rare~antique French Bronze Paris Figural Lamp Par Rousseau C.1900~sculpture
Antique C1900 Art Nouveau Leaf & Floral Design Slag Glass Table Lamp~nr
Rare Antique Amber-globed Brass Skater's Or Hurricane Lantern/mini Oil Lamp 
Rare Cased Ww1 Begbie Signalling Lamp B Reform Lighting Co 1914 (boer War Morse)
Original Louis Poulsen Ph5 White Red Blue Pendant Lamp Poul Henningsen Denmark 
Vintage Ornate 26" Antique White Metal Electric Lamp - Very Pretty!
B&h Double Handle Cast Metal Gww Banquet Parlor Kerosene Oil Lamp Cherubs Angels
French Vintage - Tall Elegant 1950's Glass Sky-scaper Bullet Bedside Table Lamp
Vintage Glitter Lamp Light Lava Eames Light Rainbow Colors Must See No Res
Whitetail Deer 17 Antler Chandelier Real Shed Antlers Handmade Elk Sockets Lamp
1950s Mid Century Modern Prescolite Grasshopper Foor Lamps Greta Grossman Eames
Signed Handel Lamp Base, Copper
Rare Early Sandwich Cut Overlay Emerald Green Brass & Marble Fluid Lamp 1850s
Rare Antique Consolidated Lamp Blue Elite Princess Banquet/miniature Oil Lamp
Antique Matching Pair 1930's Brass&crystal Chandeliers/ceiling Lamps/lights!!
Vintage Original 1940s Jumo Brevete Bolide Art Deco Bakelite Table Lamp - Miklos
Rare Oc White All Brass Telescoping & Articulating Industrial Age Desk Lamp
Antique Patented Atwood Novelty Miniature Oil Lamp/lantern
Recent News: Lamps
Source: Google News
Police/Fire Reports: May 19, 2013
Columbia Daily Herald, May 18thReported missing were four Zebco fishing poles with reels, a tackle box with assorted tackle, 15 porcelain dolls, 150 WWF figurines, a folding chair, an antique lamp and two small electric heaters with a total estimated value of $1,945. Burglary of a...Read more
Plan Your Garage Sale Trip Using Our List
Patch.com, May 15thClothes, furniture, books, holiday items, games, toys, cook books, platters, lamps, yard tools, antique lamp, stuffed animals, pool toys, more. FRIDAY. 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., 2151 Wildspring Parkway, Joliet (half mile west of Caton Farm/Ridge Road...Read more
Edison Light Globes | Vintage Industrial Brass Small Table Lamp
stupidDOPE.com, May 14thThe solid brass body is put together and finished with antique plating to keep tarnishing to a minimum. The braided cord is 3 core quality and comes in a variety of colors. The Edison vintage lamp will run buyers about $200. Purchasers can add a dimmer...Read more
Take the formal edge off with zany color, pattern - Sioux City Journal
Sioux City Journal, May 10thSculptors Bill Finks and wife Marcia travel the globe exhuming oddments like old dolls heads and limbs, tin toys and vintage lamp parts to reassemble into unsettling -- and undeniably original -- artworks that have been featured in such chi-chi stores...Read more
Now, you can 'print' a real guitar or a gun that fires live bullets
Hindustan Times, May 10thYou can now "print" almost anything - a customised mobile phone cover, a replica of that antique lamp shade you broke and haven't yet. found a replacement for and, even, a prosthetic ear. Best of all, you can build them according to your desire - an...Read more
Edison Lamps: A Good Old Fashioned Vintage Lamp - Gizmodo
Gizmodo, May 9thStarting at $205, the lamps are totally customizable. There are three different choices of bulb shape—traditional, teardrop, or globular. You can also add a dimmer (for $38 more), and pick out the color of cable you'd like. The Edisons make a nice...Read more
The Vintage Lamp
Huffington Post, April 27thMost folks in town described Anita Perkins with peculiar detail. A few could talk about Anita for up to three hours without repeating a story, many could hold an audience while three consecutive beers were consumed at Taylor's Saloon, but just about...Read more
The smart collector: Internet sales shed some light on price range for vintage ...
Arizona Daily Star, April 21stThe smart collector: Internet sales shed some light on price range for vintage lamp. Print Email. « The smart collector Internet sales shed some light on price range for vintage lamp. » 2013-04-21T00:00:00Z The smart collector: Internet sales shed some...Read more