Following on from simple gas lamps and candlesticks, the advent of electricity at the end of the 19th Century gave designers the opportunity to fundamentally re-imagine our lighting. Soon innovative and beautifully elegant designs emerged inspired by nature as well as by modern industrial life. Indeed because electric lamps had no ancestral precedent they were free to be bold, quirky and brave- and many were. Today we are fortunate to have over 100 years of desk and table lamp designs to choose from, incorporating all manner of materials and forms.
To many people desk lamps really excelled in quality during the 1920s to 1950s when design was both modern and functional. You could find examples covered in thick Italian leather, made of bright eye-catching new plastics or even contrasting sleek polished metals. The classic articulated arm emerged in the 1930s both from Herbert Terry in the UK and companies like Jielde in France and after being popular in factories and offices earned a permanent spot in our homes as well. Table lamps in contrast were always intended for the home use and came in all manner of forms and materials with paper or cloth covered shades to soften the glare of the lightbulb. Although there are many designs of modern lamp we can choose from also, older examples usually have the added beauty of patination and wear.
At LoveAntiques we have a great selection of appealing antique and vintage lamps from reputable sellers across the UK.
£ 345
Whites Antiques
Silver Plate Pink Onyx Lamps 1900-1920
£ 825
£ 525
£ 575
£ 750
Marylebone Antiques
Vintage Chrome Mushroom Lamp
£ 445
Campbell Vintage
Pair of Table Lamps Constructed From Old Printing Block Letters
£ 780
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Antique Brass Table Lamps with Tole Shades
£ 2,450
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Edwardian Silver Plated Table Lamp
£ 460
£ 500
Marylebone Antiques
Vintage Brass Armillary Sphere Table Lamp
£ 575
Rams Head Antiques
Antique Brass Neo Classical Table Lamp
£ 285
Rams Head Antiques
Antique White Marble & Ormolu Large Table Lamp
£ 485
William Rand Antiques
Pullman Brass Table Lamp Attributed To Faraday & Sons
£ 195
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
Pair of Mid Century Corinthian Column Brass Table Lamps
£ 425
Pair of Mid Century Corinthian Column Brass Table Lamps
£ 425
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
Elmgarden
Carved Wooden Shabby Gilt Table Lamp
£ 300
The Antique Warehouse
Table Lamp: Provocative Owl Crafted Table Lamp, Made in Italy & Designed by Giuseppe Armani
£ 145
Table Lamp: Provocative Owl Crafted Table Lamp, Made in Italy & Designed by Giuseppe Armani
£ 145
The Antique Warehouse
The Antique Warehouse
Table Lamp: Attractive Vintage Ceramic Table Lamp, in the Style of Clarise Cliff
£ 50
Table Lamp: Attractive Vintage Ceramic Table Lamp, in the Style of Clarise Cliff
£ 50
The Antique Warehouse
The Antique Warehouse
Table Lamp: Attractive 20th Century Egg-shaped White Mosaic Glass Table Lamp
£ 85
Table Lamp: Attractive 20th Century Egg-shaped White Mosaic Glass Table Lamp
£ 85
The Antique Warehouse
The Antique Warehouse
Table Lamps: Matching Pair of 20th Century 'Lava Drip Glaze' Ceramic Table Lamps
£ 300
Table Lamps: Matching Pair of 20th Century 'Lava Drip Glaze' Ceramic Table Lamps
£ 300
The Antique Warehouse
£ 400
Sunnyside Antiques
Antique Vaseline Glass Pendant Lamps
£ 695
Sunnyside Antiques
Baccarat Cut Glass Table Lamp
£ 1,100
Antiques & Chic
19th Century Palmer & Co Candle Table Lamp
£ 1,795
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Vintage Table Lamps by Hala Zeist
£ 2,850
Marylebone Antiques
Vintage French Ceramic Table Lamp
£ 550
Marylebone Antiques
Large Pair of Brass Table Lamps
£ 575
Koos Limburg Jnr
Art Deco Amsterdam School Carved Wooden Table Lamp
£ 750
£ 725
Elmgarden
Pair of Silvered Glass Table Lamps
£ 725
£ 2,450
Pair of Antique Lamp Bases, French, Gilt Metal, Marble, Table Light c.1910
£ 2,450
London Fine Ltd
Koos Limburg Jnr
Pair of Brass Table Lamps in Late Gothic Style
£ 475
Koos Limburg Jnr
Exceptional Very Stylish Embossed Brass Table Lamp 1900-1920
£ 2,750
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
Pair of Unusual & Attractive Brass Painted Lamps
£ 945
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Alabaster Table Lamps
£ 650
£ 1,750
Rare Original Patinated Brass Hand-woven Flat Brass Strap-work Table Lamp
£ 1,750
Koos Limburg Jnr
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Cloisonné Table Lamps
£ 1,375
Marylebone Antiques
Vintage Italian Ceramic Table Lamp by Aldo Londi for Bitossi
£ 450
Salisbury Antiques Centre
Ceramic Decorated Lamp
£ 180
Marylebone Antiques
Vintage Ceramic Table Lamp
£ 220