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.
Georgian Antiques
Pair of Cast Bronze Lamps
£ 800
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Antique Silver Plated Column Table Lamp
£ 195
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Vintage Italian Brass & Glass Table Lamps
£ 1,650
Marylebone Antiques
Vintage Murano Glass Mushroom Lamp by Peil & Putzler
£ 495
Koos Limburg Jnr
Beautiful Pair of Metal Original Patinated Table Lamps c.1900
£ 875
Graham Smith Antiques Ltd
Late 19th Century / Early 20th Century Brass Table Lamp
£ 380
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Large Vintage Italian Brass & Glass Table Lamps
£ 2,250
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Vintage Ceramic & Brass Table Lamps
£ 945
Marylebone Antiques
Antique French Gilt Metal Table Lamp
£ 375
Deco Original Ltd
Art Deco Spelter & Alabaster Lady Lamp
£ 350
Jo Brayshaw
Rare Art Deco Table Lamp 1949
£ 950
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Neoclassical Style Bronze Table Lamps
£ 575
Paul Watson Antiques & Interiors Norfolk
Art Deco Spelter Lady Lamp with Crackle Glaze Globe Shade
£ 675
Art Deco Spelter Lady Lamp with Crackle Glaze Globe Shade
£ 675
Paul Watson Antiques & Interiors Norfolk
Jo Brayshaw
Art Deco Elephant Table Lamp c.1930
£ 875
Deco Original Ltd
Art Deco Chrome Table Lamp
£ 245
£ 575
Marylebone Antiques
Vintage Brass Desk Lamp
£ 385
£ 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
£ 280
Table Lamps: Matching Pair of 20th Century 'Lava Drip Glaze' Ceramic Table Lamps
£ 280
The Antique Warehouse
£ 400
Sunnyside Antiques
Antique Vaseline Glass Pendant Lamps
£ 695
Sunnyside Antiques
Baccarat Cut Glass Table Lamp
£ 1,100