As any interior designer knows light is one of the most important variables in any room. From the soft glow of a candle held in a simple brass candlestick, to a pair of carefully positioned wall lights, or a grand statement chandelier dangling from the ceiling, your choice of lighting really matters. Although there are many modern lights out there to choose from, Antique and vintage lamps offer unique designs you won’t find on the High Street as well as appealing age-worn finishes and colours. Indeed, with old lighting it is all about being bold and letting your instincts guide you to the best creative designs of the past. Often vintage desk lamps are mini sculptures themselves, so give them plenty of physical space in the room to let them shine (quite literally!)
While old electrical lighting can be the perfect solution to any space, due to deteriorating parts it is important to either buy from reputable dealers or get them professionally checked and rewired yourself. That is one reason why buying from our specialist Dealers is so beneficial (as unless otherwise stated) they do this hard work for you. Also rewiring rarely harms the overall value of an antique or vintage lamp, and usually enhances it instead.
At LoveAntiques we have an impressive selection of genuine antique and vintage lighting for all your needs.
D and A Binder LTD
Mid Century Tripod Theatre Light
£ 1,320
Robert Pagden Antiques
1209 Herbert & Son Anglepoise Table Lamp
£ 595
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of French Onyx & Gilt Metal Table Lamps
£ 850
Robert Pagden Antiques
1970s Table Lamp
£ 75
Piers Rankin Silver Antiques
Pair of Classical Style Victorian Silver Plated Candlesticks
£ 255
Pair of Classical Style Victorian Silver Plated Candlesticks
£ 255
Piers Rankin Silver Antiques
£ 235
William Rand Antiques
Large Old Sheffield Plate Chamberstick, 1835
£ 150
William Rand Antiques
French Gilded Bronze Table Lamp
£ 215
O Keeffe Antiques
French Gilded Triple Light Birdcage Chandelier
£ 595
Koos Limburg Jnr
A Pair Of Very Decorative Italian Renaissance Style Turned And Carved Gilded Wooden Standard Lamps
£ 1,250
A Pair Of Very Decorative Italian Renaissance Style Turned And Carved Gilded Wooden Standard Lamps
£ 1,250
Koos Limburg Jnr
Prometheus Antiques
Pair of Wedgwood Jasperware Candlesticks
£ 195
Queens Antiques & Collectables
Pair of Sterling Silver Candlesticks W I Broadway & Co 1973
£ 325
Pair of Sterling Silver Candlesticks W I Broadway & Co 1973
£ 325
Queens Antiques & Collectables
Beeches Vintage
Vintage 1939 Sterling Silver Squat Candlestick Holders
£ 75
Tom Scott Antiques
French Adjustable Desk Lamp with Glass Shade
£ 395
O Keeffe Antiques
Florentine Pair Of Gilded Triple Light Chandeliers
£ 475
O Keeffe Antiques
English Pair Of Twin Arm Antique Wall Lights
£ 365
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Vintage Italian Walnut and Brass Table Lamps
£ 1,650
£ 1,250
£ 300
£ 345
Town House Traders Ltd
Ornate Antique Cherub Floor Lamp
£ 230
Robert Pagden Antiques
Vintage French Floor Lamp in Manner of Maison Bagues
£ 595
£ 625
Pair of Antique Mantlepiece Candlesticks, English, Silver Plate - Victorian 1900
£ 625
London Fine Ltd
Marylebone Antiques
Vintage French Floor Lamp by Le Dauphin
£ 675
O Keeffe Antiques
French Set of 4 Gilded Antique Wall Sconces
£ 795
£ 275
Alain Michel Antiques
Renaissance Bronze Chandelier with 8 Light Arms Decorated with Birds
€ 1,900
Renaissance Bronze Chandelier with 8 Light Arms Decorated with Birds
€ 1,900
Alain Michel Antiques
Koos Limburg Jnr
Amsterdam School Art Nouveau / Art Deco Stylish Copper And Brass Hanging Light, Circa 1900-20
£ 1,450
Amsterdam School Art Nouveau / Art Deco Stylish Copper And Brass Hanging Light, Circa 1900-20
£ 1,450
Koos Limburg Jnr
O Keeffe Antiques
Italian 12 Light Gilded Bronze Antique Chandelier
£ 3,450
£ 395
Whites Antiques
English Circa 1910 Hand Carved Giltwood Standard Floor Lamp
£ 1,250
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Vintage Swedish Leather Bound Brass Floor Lamps
£ 1,400
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Antique Victorian Floor Lamps
£ 575
JMR Antiques Ltd
Pair of Carved Wood Georgian Wall Sconces
£ 995
Treehouse Antiques
Brass Art Nouveau Adjustable Standard Lamp
£ 385
Marylebone Antiques
Antique French Neoclassical Tole Floor Lamp & Original Tole Shade
£ 975
William Rand Antiques
Art Deco Walthe And Sohne Table Lamp
£ 395
William Rand Antiques
Art Deco Chrome Bedside Table Lamp & Alarm Clock
£ 245
Antiques & Chic
Regency Gold And Black Table Lamp
£ 375
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
A Set of Four Decorative Mid 20thc Double Wall Light Sconces
£ 1,395
A Set of Four Decorative Mid 20thc Double Wall Light Sconces
£ 1,395
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
How to date antique brass candlesticks?
Antique candlesticks are a universally loved item and date back thousands of years. However because they are all quite similar and look the same shiny colour when cleaned, it is not always easy to know how old they are. The overall form of brass candlestick has varied quite a bit over time from wider domed bases and larger drip trays to slender neoclassical varieties with push-up sockets and square bases. However, since it is relatively easy to copy older designs (and plenty of people have) it is important to look at the condition and construction also. Up to the end of the 18th Century most candlesticks were hammered or cast but by the 19th century were being stamped or spun in sections. These older examples tend to use thicker brass and will be held together with hand cut screw threads and hand cut squared nuts. Since these items were used on a daily basis then you would also expect a good degree of wear and knocks as well.
Is antique lighting valuable?
As a highly practical accessory antique and vintage lighting can be quite valuable mostly ranging up to a few thousand UK Pounds. There are of course two reasons people purchase lights, one of which is for their aesthetic appeal, but the other is because some of the finest industrial designers of the past 100 years also chose to design lamps. These lamps can be fun and modern or clever and timeless but because they also remain highly practical they should prove to be good longer term investments.
Do old lamps need to be rewired?
As usable items old electric lamps are naturally far more valuable when they work. Whether the lamp is ultimately PAT tested with the old wiring or rewired does not affect the overall value of the lamp, but for piece-of-mind having the item rewired is always preferable. The reason is because these old lamps internally bear wires and holders which will have aged over time sometimes more substantially than is visually noticeable. The older rubber and threads covering the wires will have dried and cracked and the fixings in the holders may have come loose. Many were also made at a time of lower voltages and without an Earth. This is one reason why it is worth purchasing such items from a specialist as on LoveAntiques who will ensure your cool looking lamp is safe to use for decades to come.
How to choose an antique lamp?