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.
O Keeffe Antiques
Florentine Silver Giltwood Wall Lights
£ 975
£ 3,950
Large Antique Courtyard Light, English, Bronze, Outdoor Lamp - Victorian c.1870
£ 3,950
London Fine Ltd
£ 345
Treehouse Antiques
Small Edwardian Silver Candlestick
£ 89
Kernow Furniture
Jean Noverdy Style French Art Nouveau Chandelier
£ 485
Crystal Corner
Pair of Eight Light Florentine Antique Chandeliers
£ 4,800
£ 295
Whites Antiques
Silver Plate Pink Onyx Lamps 1900-1920
£ 825
Jeff Sims Antiques
Handsome Pair of Edwardian Silver Candlesticks
£ 425
£ 525
£ 575
£ 750
O Keeffe Antiques
French Gilded 12 Light Antique Chandelier
£ 1,950
O Keeffe Antiques
French Bronze Single Arm Wall Lights
£ 225
£ 985
Bridport Antiques at The Alleyways Centre
Victorian Cranberry Glass Oil Lamp
£ 716
Church Street Antiques
Victorian Neo Classical Silver Plated Candlestick
£ 295
Paul Watson Antiques & Interiors Norfolk
Chinoiserie Decorated Walnut Standard Lamp c.1930
£ 395
Chinoiserie Decorated Walnut Standard Lamp c.1930
£ 395
Paul Watson Antiques & Interiors Norfolk
Marylebone Antiques
Vintage Chrome Mushroom Lamp
£ 445
O Keeffe Antiques
English Silver 12 Light 19th Century Antique Chandelier
£ 1,950
Andros Antiques
Pair of Pitchfork Standard Lamps
£ 985
O Keeffe Antiques
French Pair of Gilded Antique Wall Lights
£ 395
Campbell Vintage
Pair of Table Lamps Constructed From Old Printing Block Letters
£ 780
Campbell Vintage
19th Century Paw Feet Brass Base Standard Lamp
£ 460
Campbell Vintage
Patinated Brass Standard Lamp with Gadrooning Detail
£ 440
Campbell Vintage
Brass Standard Lamp with Laurel Wreath & Claw Feet
£ 480
Treehouse Antiques
Edwardian Silver Candlesticks 1905
£ 595
Campbell Vintage
Pair of 19th Century Oak Barley Twist Candlesticks
£ 260
Unique Antiques By Emma Jade
Lovely Pair of Antique George III Silver Plated Chambersticks
£ 375
Lovely Pair of Antique George III Silver Plated Chambersticks
£ 375
Unique Antiques By Emma Jade
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Antique Brass Table Lamps with Tole Shades
£ 2,450
£ 245
O Keeffe Antiques
French Gilded Bronze Antique Hall Lantern
£ 895
O Keeffe Antiques
French Pair of Gilded Antique Wall Lights
£ 395
Town House Traders Ltd
Quality Brass & Mahogany Adjustable Reading Lamp
£ 390
Rams Head Antiques
Antique Glass Hanging Light Shade
£ 225
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Copper Anchor Light with Oil Burner
£ 120
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Square Opaline Pendant Light
£ 175
O Keeffe Antiques
Italian Pair of Giltwood Antique Wall Lights
£ 975
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Edwardian Silver Plated Table Lamp
£ 460
£ 500
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?