Question 1

What is an antique student lamp?

Accepted Answer

An antique student lamp is a desk lamp that features a tube-shaped stem and one or two arms. Each arm has its own shade. The design of the student lamp allows it to direct light downward onto a surface for reading. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of student lamps.

Question 2

How do I identify my antique lamp?

Accepted Answer

One of the simplest ways to identify an antique lamp is to look for markings that indicate the maker. Then, you can research the artisan or company that made the lamp using trusted online resources to see when they were active. Some antique lamps may have a date stamp on the shade or the bottom of the body of the lamp. Plugs can also provide a clue. Plugs on antique and vintage fixtures may feature exposed screws or prongs that are the same size. Prongs on newer lamps are usually two different sizes. Keep in mind that an antique lamp could have undergone a cord replacement, so what you see may not be an original. When in doubt, you can consult a certified appraiser or experienced antiques dealer for information about specific pieces. Shop a selection of antique lamps on 1stDibs.

Question 3

How do I identify a Laurel Lamp table lamp?

Accepted Answer

To identify a Laurel Lamp table lamp, first check the bottom of the base and the bulb socket for a label, tag or other marking. Some pieces display the Laurel brand name or a serial number, which you can cross-reference with information published on trusted online resources to make an identification. Since not all Laurel table lamps bear markings, you may need to search image galleries to see if you can find a model that matches your lamp. You can also consult a certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer for an expert opinion. Find a variety of Laurel Lamp Company lamps on 1stDibs.

Question 4

How do I identify my table lamp?

Accepted Answer

To identify your table lamp, look it over in search of a maker's mark. Check the base, neck, light receptacle and shade for an engraving, embossing, stamp, label or other mark. With lamps that have felted bottoms, this may require lifting the fabric to reveal the material beneath. After finding a maker's mark, research it using trusted online resources to learn who the maker was and learn more about your fixture. A certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer can help as needed. On 1stDibs, find a diverse assortment of antique, vintage and contemporary table lamps.

Question 5

How big should a table lamp be?

Accepted Answer

How big a table lamp should be depends on your lighting needs and the size of the surface that you're placing the light fixture on. Most table lamps are 30 to 36 inches tall. On shorter tables, a taller lamp may be necessary to put illumination at eye level. Find a variety of table lamps on 1stDibs.

Question 6

What are table lamps used for?

Accepted Answer

Table lamps are often used as a reading light or for task lighting. They can also simply serve as part of a room’s decor, perhaps adding light to an area that doesn’t get any illumination from overhead lights. Shop a collection of table lamps from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

Question 7

What is a buffet table lamp?

Accepted Answer

Buffet lamps, also known as console lamps or candlestick lamps, are light fixtures that range in height from 32 to 36 inches. The lamps feature a small shade and a narrow base silhouette, which resembles a slim column or candlestick. Shop for antique and vintage buffet lamps on 1stDibs.

Question 8

What is the difference between a table lamp and an accent lamp?

Accepted Answer

The main difference between a table lamp and an accent lamp is its size. Generally, table lamps are larger pieces that people use for task lighting or to increase ambiance lighting in a room. Accent lamps tend to be smaller and provide supplemental light in spaces. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of lamps from some of the world's top sellers.

Question 9

What is the difference between a table lamp and a buffet lamp?

Accepted Answer

The difference between a table lamp and a buffet lamp is the size. Although the two types of lamps come in similar heights, buffet lamps are usually narrower, so they take up less space on a buffet server filled with food. On 1stDibs, find an assortment of lamps from some of the world's top sellers.

Question 10

Do table lamps have to match?

Accepted Answer

Your table lamps do not have to match but it definitely is important that they still go together. This can be done by making sure they are of similar style or have something in common such as color, shape, lamp shade, or metal type.

Question 11

How does a table lamp work?

Accepted Answer

How a table lamp works begins with its cord, which gets plugged into an electrical outlet that provides a source of energy. Halogen and incandescent bulbs contain filaments. The filament in a bulb is a conductor of electricity. It’s attached to contacts made of metal that are connected to a power supply. This allows for electricity to flow through it. When the electrical current cycles through the filament, this component gets quite hot and emits light. Find a large collection of vintage table lamps on 1stDibs.

Question 12

How do you identify an antique electric lamp?

Accepted Answer

To identify an antique electric lamp, check out the cord. Antique lamps will usually not have a vinyl or polymer cord cover. Instead, you can expect the wires to be exposed or covered with fabric. In addition, the prongs on antique plugs will be the same size. If your lamp has one small and one large prong, it's unlikely to be an antique. Keep in mind that some antique lamps may have been rewired, so you may wish to get an opinion from a certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer. On 1stDibs, find a selection of antique electric lamps.

Question 13

How do I know if my porcelain lamps are antique?

Accepted Answer

The best way to determine the age of porcelain lamps is to work with an appraiser. While some online resources can be helpful when you’re looking for information about the value of an item, the suggested value you find may not be the actual value of your item, since that will depend on a number of factors, including the shape it’s in. You’ll find expertly vetted porcelain lamps and other decor on 1stDibs.

Question 14

How do you identify an antique floor lamp?

Accepted Answer

To identify an antique floor lamp, first see if you can locate a marking on the shade, base, switch, socket or another area. Using trusted online resources, you can often identify a maker based on these markings. With an unmarked lamp, check the cord. Antique lighting fixtures will usually have a cotton-wrapped cord or exposed wires rather than a polymer-coated cord. The plug is also likely to have prongs the same size if the lamp is antique. Generally, a floor lamp must be at least 100 years old to be considered an antique. For further assistance with the identification process, enlist the help of a certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer. On 1stDibs, find a collection of antique floor lamps.

Question 15

What makes an antique lamp valuable?

Accepted Answer

A number of things can make an antique lamp valuable. The lamp’s maker is a major determining factor. Pieces made by Tiffany Studios, Baccarat, Handel and Pairpoint are frequently sought by collectors and are generally worth more than others. The style and condition of the piece will also affect how much it's worth. You can enlist the help of a certified appraiser or experienced antiques dealer for assistance evaluating a particular lamp. Shop an assortment of antique lamps from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

Question 16

How do I tell if an oil lamp is antique?

Accepted Answer

There are a few key things to look for to identify an antique oil lamp. First check for a patent number anywhere on your lamp. Use a black light to inspect whether your lamp’s hardware is secured with glue, which fluoresces and would indicate a contemporary lamp. Antique lamps use plaster to attach hardware and fill gaps. An antique oil lamp may have hand-blown glass. Shop a range of professionally authenticated antique oil lamps on 1stDibs.

Question 17

How do I identify an antique table?

Accepted Answer

You can identify an antique table in a number of ways. The first clue that a table is antique is the joinery. If a piece of furniture is dovetailed by hand, it only has a couple of dovetails, which are uneven. Also, antique tables are not defined by perfect symmetry. Lastly, antique tables were typically made of oak, mahogany, and walnut.

Question 18

What is an antique rent table?

Accepted Answer

An antique rent table is a piece of furniture that landlords and tenants used to exchange rent. The rent money would be placed in one drawer, the table would rotate for the landlord to receive. It was considered polite and gentlemanly to pay rent this way. Shop a collection of antique rent tables from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

Question 19

How tall should a lamp be on a console table?

Accepted Answer

A lamp for a console table should be between 25 and 32 inches tall. The table lamp’s shade shouldn’t exceed half the width of the console table.

You’ll find that when it comes to arranging wall art, a decorator might suggest that the space on the wall above a console table is a great place for a large painting or a wall sculpture. In that case, you may wish to use a taller lamp for the table. If your table is smaller in scale or if you have a small mirror hanging on the wall above the console, you may wish to opt for a shorter lamp.

Find vintage table lamps for sale on 1stDibs.

Question 20

What size lamp should be on a sofa table?

Accepted Answer

To determine what size lamp should be on a sofa table, measure the table from the bottom of the legs to the tabletop. Then, choose a lamp that is equal to or up to 1.5 times taller than the table. Shop a range of table lamps from some of the world's top sellers on 1stDibs.

Antique Lamp Table

1920s French Antique Lamp Table

Pair of Bronze Table Lamps

1920s French Art Deco Antique Lamp Table

Art Deco Table Lamp, 1920

Early 19th Century British Edwardian Antique Lamp Table

Edwardian Silver plated table Lamp

Early 20th Century British Antique Lamp Table

Metal mounted onyx table lamp

Early 20th Century Japanese Anglo-Japanese Antique Lamp Table

Pair Japanese Bronze Table Lamps

Early 20th Century Austrian Belle Époque Antique Lamp Table

Table lamp, copper patina, 1900ca

1910s French Art Deco Antique Lamp Table

Large Alabaster Table Lamp, 1910s

19th Century British Victorian Antique Lamp Table

English Victorian Bronze Frog Table Lamp

1810s French Charles X Antique Lamp Table

French Tole Table Lamp

Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Lamp Table

Large Bronze Meiji Period Table Lamp

1920s American Industrial Antique Lamp Table

Rare Industrial Scissor Table Lamp.

Early 20th Century British Antique Lamp Table

Brass corinthian column table lamp

Mid-19th Century American Aesthetic Movement Antique Lamp Table

Aesthetic Movement Victorian Table Lamp

1920s French Antique Lamp Table

Single Black Porcelain Table Lamp

Early 19th Century French Antique Lamp Table

Single Empire Style Table Lamp

Early 20th Century British Antique Lamp Table

Brass corinthian column table lamp

1920s English Antique Lamp Table

Pair of Wedgwood Table Lamps

Late 19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Lamp Table

Pair of 19th Century Oil Lamps Converted to Table Lamps

Early 1900s French Antique Lamp Table

Cherub Candelabra Table Lamp

19th Century French Victorian Antique Lamp Table

French Victorian Brass Cherub Table Lamp

Early 20th Century Italian Rustic Antique Lamp Table

Antique table lamp, Italy, 1930s

Early 20th Century Dutch Antique Lamp Table

Hendrik Methorst Copper Table Lamp

1920s Arts and Crafts Antique Lamp Table

Tall Embossed Brass Table Lamp

Early 20th Century English Edwardian Antique Lamp Table

Early 20thC Brass Desk Table Lamp

1920s French Modern Antique Lamp Table

Table Lamp by Jean Besnard

19th Century French Antique Lamp Table

French Porcelain Neoclassic Table Lamp

1870s English Neoclassical Revival Antique Lamp Table

Victorian Brass Neoclassical Table Lamp

19th Century French Antique Lamp Table

Pair of White Table Lamps

1920s German Industrial Antique Lamp Table

Rademacher Table Lamp Circa 1920s

1920s French Antique Lamp Table

White Opaline Glass table Lamp

1920s French Antique Lamp Table

Blue Opaline Glass Table lamp

1920s French Art Nouveau Antique Lamp Table

Table lamp by Louis Majorelle

Early 20th Century Arts and Crafts Antique Lamp Table

Pair of Handmade Wooden Table Lamps

1920s German Jugendstil Antique Lamp Table

Reinlicht Table Lamp Circa 1920s

1910s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Antique Lamp Table

Table Lamp by Josef Ekberg

Early 20th Century Antique Lamp Table

Finely Wrought Iron Table Lamp

Early 20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Antique Lamp Table

Pair of Ceramic Table Lamps

Early 20th Century Antique Lamp Table

English Metamorphic Brass Table Lamps

Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Lamp Table

Bronze French “Snake” Table Lamp

1910s American Art Nouveau Antique Lamp Table