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.
Marylebone Antiques
Vintage Brass Armillary Sphere Table Lamp
£ 575
Salisbury Antiques Centre
Pair of Asian Table Lamps
£ 585
Church Street Antiques
Early 20th Century American Overlaid Glass Table Lamp
£ 980
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Art Deco Chrome Table Lamp
£ 195
Elmgarden
Pair of Chunky Brass Bedside Lamps
£ 345
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Neoclassical Style Brass & Glass Table Lamps
£ 1,250
Marylebone Antiques
Art Deco Chrome & Glass Table Lamp
£ 345
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Antique Bankers Lamp
£ 275
Graham Deakin Antiques
Chinese Famille Rose Lamp
£ 225
Marylebone Antiques
French Neoclassical Style Brass Table Lamp
£ 375
Fernyhough Antiques Ltd
Pretty Ormolu Cherub Lamp
£ 495
£ 325
Williams Antiques & Restoration
Porcelain Ginger Jar Table Lamp
£ 210
Tony Youll Antiques
Maison Charles Ostrich Egg Table Lamp
£ 650
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Gilt Metal & Tole Table Lamp
£ 790
Church Street Antiques
Pair of Early 20thc French Style Crystal Drop Lustres
£ 880
London City Antiques
Large Antique Victorian Quality China & Ormolu Table Lamp
£ 825
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Victorian Brass Table Lamp
£ 295
JMR Antiques Ltd
19th Century Blue & White Lamp
£ 895
£ 250
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Vintage Swedish Table Lamps by Carl Fagerlund for Orrefors
£ 1,650
Pair of Vintage Swedish Table Lamps by Carl Fagerlund for Orrefors
£ 1,650
Marylebone Antiques
Graham Deakin Antiques
Tiffany Lamp Base
£ 395
£ 600
Loveday Antiques
Jacques Adnet French Mid Century Modern Leather Table Lamp
£ 4,800
Sunnyside Antiques
Vintage Copper Port & Starboard Lights
£ 195
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Antique Gilt Table Lamp
£ 120
Marylebone Antiques
Antique French Marble and Gilt Metal Table Lamp
£ 885
Walton House Antiques Ltd
Pair of Vintage Japanese Vintage Lamps
£ 750
William Rand Antiques
Art Deco Walthe & Sohne Glass Table Lamp
£ 285
£ 1,250
A Rare Large and Very Decorative Japanese Bronze Lantern Table Lamp
£ 1,250
Koos Limburg Jnr
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Cloisonné Table Lamps
£ 1,250
Koos Limburg Jnr
Pair of Chinese Very Stylish Cast Brass Table Lamps
£ 675
Koos Limburg Jnr
Unusual Japanese Bronze Champlevé Table Lamp
£ 475
Koos Limburg Jnr
Impressive Japanese Bronze Table Lamp Meiji Period (1868-1912)
£ 675
Koos Limburg Jnr
Impressive Japanese Satsuma Table Lamp
£ 575
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Antique Brass Reading Lamp with Cranberry Glass Shade
£ 250
Antique Brass Reading Lamp with Cranberry Glass Shade
£ 250
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
£ 675
Pair of Impressive Fine Cast Brass Table Lamps in the Early Gothic Style
£ 675
Koos Limburg Jnr
Koos Limburg Jnr
French Ceramic & Brass Table Lamp
£ 475
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Vintage Italian Ceramic Table Lamps by Bitossi
£ 1,650
£ 575