What is an antique student lamp?

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.

How do I identify my antique lamp?

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.

How do I know if my porcelain lamps are antique?

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.

How do you identify an antique floor lamp?

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.

How do you identify an antique electric lamp?

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.

What makes an antique lamp valuable?

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.

How do I tell if an oil lamp is antique?

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.

Antique Ships Lamps

18th Century Chinese Export Porcelain Vase

19th Century Ships Lantern

Lamps Made From Vases

Antique Ships Lamps For Sale on 1stDibs

There is a range of antique ships lamps for sale on 1stDibs. The range of distinct antique ships lamps — often made from metal, brass and glass — can elevate any home. Antique ships lamps have long been popular, with older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. Antique ships lamps made by Industrial designers — as well as those associated with Art Deco — are very popular at 1stDibs. Antique ships lamps have been a part of the life’s work for many furniture makers, but those produced by Perkins Marine Lamp, Ilse D. Ammonsen and Kosmos Brenner are consistently popular.

How Much are Antique Ships Lamps?

Prices for antique ships lamps can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, antique ships lamps begin at $175 and can go as high as $22,500, while the average can fetch as much as $1,193.

Finding the Right Lighting for You

The right table lamp, outwardly sculptural chandelier or understated wall pendant can work wonders for your home. While we’re indebted to thinkers like Thomas Edison for critically important advancements in lighting and electricity, we’re still finding new ways to customize illumination to fit our personal spaces all these years later. A wide range of antique and vintage lighting can be found on 1stDibs.

Today, lighting designers like the self-taught Bec Brittain have used the flexible structure of LEDs to craft glamorous solutions by working with what is typically considered a harsh lighting source. By integrating glass and mirrors, reflection can be used to soften the glow from LEDs and warmly welcome light into any space.

Although contemporary innovators continue to impress, some of the classics can’t be beat.

Just as gazing at the stars allows you to glimpse the universe’s past, vintage chandeliers like those designed by Gino Sarfatti and J. L. Lobmeyr, for example, put on a similarly stunning show, each with a rich story to tell.

As dazzling as it is, the Arco lamp, on the other hand, prioritizes functionality — it’s wholly mobile, no drilling required. Designed in 1962 by architect-product designers Achille Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, the piece takes the traditional form of a streetlamp and creates an elegant, arching floor fixture for at-home use.

There is no shortage of modernist lighting similarly prized by collectors and casual enthusiasts alike — there are Art Deco table lamps created in a universally appreciated style, the Tripod floor lamp by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Greta Magnusson Grossman's sleek and minimalist Grasshopper lamps and, of course, the wealth of mid-century experimental lighting that emerged from Italian artisans at Arredoluce, FLOS and many more are hallmarks in illumination innovation.

With decades of design evolution behind it, home lighting is no longer just practical. Crystalline shaping by designers like Gabriel Scott turns every lighting apparatus into a luxury accessory. A new installation doesn’t merely showcase a space; carefully chosen ceiling lights, table lamps and floor lamps can create a mood, spotlight a favorite piece or highlight your unique personality.

The sparkle that your space has been missing is waiting for you amid the growing collection of antique, vintage and contemporary lighting for sale on 1stDibs.

Questions About Antique Ships Lamps

What is an antique student lamp?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertJune 15, 2023
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.
How do I identify my antique lamp?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023
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.
How do I know if my porcelain lamps are antique?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
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.
How do you identify an antique floor lamp?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertNovember 4, 2024
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.
How do you identify an antique electric lamp?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertNovember 13, 2024
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.
What makes an antique lamp valuable?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023
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.
How do I tell if an oil lamp is antique?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
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.