Vintage Fish Lamp
1960s Italian Vintage Fish Lamp
Brass
20th Century Italian Vintage Fish Lamp
Brass
1970s Unknown Vintage Fish Lamp
Ceramic
20th Century French Vintage Fish Lamp
1960s American Vintage Fish Lamp
Late 20th Century Vintage Fish Lamp
Porcelain
1950s Vintage Fish Lamp
Blown Glass, Wood
1950s French Vintage Fish Lamp
Glass, Wood
1970s Mexican Vintage Fish Lamp
Bronze
Late 20th Century Italian Vintage Fish Lamp
1940s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Fish Lamp
Terracotta
20th Century French Vintage Fish Lamp
Glass
20th Century American Vintage Fish Lamp
1950s Italian Vintage Fish Lamp
1940s Vintage Fish Lamp
Brass
1970s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Fish Lamp
Brass
1950s American Vintage Fish Lamp
Metal
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Vintage Fish Lamp
Porcelain
1940s American Vintage Fish Lamp
Wood
1960s Italian Vintage Fish Lamp
1960s Italian Vintage Fish Lamp
Murano Glass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fish Lamp
Lucite
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fish Lamp
Plastic
1970s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Fish Lamp
Animal Skin
20th Century Unknown Vintage Fish Lamp
Ceramic
20th Century French Vintage Fish Lamp
Agate, Brass
Mid-20th Century American Vintage Fish Lamp
Steel
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fish Lamp
Brass
20th Century American Vintage Fish Lamp
Nickel
20th Century French Vintage Fish Lamp
Resin
1950s Vintage Fish Lamp
Iron
1950s Vintage Fish Lamp
Iron
20th Century French Vintage Fish Lamp
20th Century American Vintage Fish Lamp
Late 20th Century Vintage Fish Lamp
Ceramic, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fish Lamp
Ceramic
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fish Lamp
Brass
Late 20th Century Italian Vintage Fish Lamp
Steel
1950s French Modern Vintage Fish Lamp
Brass
1960s Mexican Folk Art Vintage Fish Lamp
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fish Lamp
Ceramic
1970s American Vintage Fish Lamp
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fish Lamp
Metal
Mid-20th Century Chinese Vintage Fish Lamp
Porcelain
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fish Lamp
Terracotta
1970s Vintage Fish Lamp
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fish Lamp
Metal, Brass
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Fish Lamp
Ceramic
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Vintage Fish Lamp For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Vintage Fish Lamp?
Finding the Right Table-lamps for You
Well-crafted antique and vintage table lamps do more than provide light; the right fixture-and-table combination can add a focal point or creative element to any interior.
Proper table lamps have long been used for lighting our most intimate spaces. Perfect for lighting your nightstand or reading nook, table lamps play an integral role in styling an inviting room. In the years before electricity, lamps used oil. Today, a rewired 19th-century vintage lamp can still provide a touch of elegance for a study.
After industrial milestones such as mass production took hold in the Victorian era, various design movements sought to bring craftsmanship and innovation back to this indispensable household item. Lighting designers affiliated with Art Deco, which originated in the glamorous roaring ’20s, sought to celebrate modern life by fusing modern metals with dark woods and dazzling colors in the fixtures of the era. The geometric shapes and gilded details of vintage Art Deco table lamps provide an air of luxury and sophistication that never goes out of style.
After launching in 1934, Anglepoise lamps soon became a favorite among modernist architects and designers, who interpreted the fixture as “a machine for lighting,” just as Le Corbusier had reimagined the house as “a machine for living in.” The popular task light owed to a collaboration between a vehicle-suspension engineer by the name of George Carwardine and a West Midlands springs manufacturer, Herbert Terry Sons.
Some mid-century modern table lamps, particularly those created by the likes of Joe Colombo and the legendary lighting artisans at Fontana Arte, bear all the provocative hallmarks associated with Space Age design. Sculptural and versatile, the Louis Poulsen table lamps of that period were revolutionary for their time and still seem innovative today.
If you are looking for something more contemporary, industrial table lamps are demonstrative of a newly chic style that isn’t afraid to pay homage to the past. They look particularly at home in any rustic loft space amid exposed brick and steel beams.
Before you buy a desk lamp or table lamp for your living room, consider your lighting needs. The Snoopy lamp, designed in 1967, or any other “banker’s lamp” (shorthand for the Emeralite desk lamps patented by H.G. McFaddin and Company), provides light at a downward angle that is perfect for writing, while the Fontana table lamp and the beloved Grasshopper lamp by Greta Magnusson-Grossman each yield a soft and even glow. Some table lamps require lampshades to be bought separately.
Whether it’s a classic antique Tiffany table lamp, a Murano glass table lamp or even a bold avant-garde fixture custom-made by a contemporary design firm, the right table lamp can completely transform a room. Find the right one for you on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 20, 2024To tell if a brass lamp is vintage, you'll need to determine if it is 20 to 99 years old by conducting online research or having an expert, such as a certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer, evaluate it. If you prefer to do the research yourself, first look for the maker's markings. Then, consult trusted online resources to identify the maker and read further to find out when the company was active and manufacturing similar lamps. Checking the plug can also be helpful. If it has two prongs of the same size, you can conclude that your lamp was made in 1962 or before, as U.S. standards set that year required all lamps to feature polarized plugs with one large and one small prong. Keep in mind that it is possible to rewire a lamp, and some makers switched to polarized plugs before the standard was established, so the lack of a non-polarized plug doesn't necessarily mean a lamp isn't pre-1962. Find a large selection of vintage brass table lamps on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023To identify a vintage porcelain lamp, check the base for markings. You may find a date stamp or the manufacturer's name. Check the porcelain for signs of wear like minor scratches and blemishes. If a lamp is in flawless condition, it's possible that it was simply stored well, but it's more likely that the piece is a newer reproduction. A certified appraiser can be of assistance if online research isn't enough to make an identification. Shop a selection of vintage porcelain lamps on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022There are many different ways to tell if a table lamp is vintage. Your best option is to look for a manufacturer label that will give you information on the designer, the date, serial number and other information that you can then Google. It’s also a good idea to look at the condition of the lamp to see what shape it’s in and if it has all of its original pieces. Shop a large collection of vintage table lamps from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022There are a few ways to identify if your table lamp is vintage, but it does vary from brand to brand. If you can spot a maker’s mark or manufacturer’s label on your piece, it could tell you where and when it was crafted. On 1stDibs, find vintage and contemporary table lamps from top sellers around the world.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 4, 2024To identify vintage Stiffel lamps, first check a piece for any markings. Nearly all Stiffel lamps have a marking at least on the switch, but some also feature large foil stamps on their bases or bulb sockets. By comparing the marks on your lamp to images and descriptions published on trusted online resources, you can often determine approximately when Stiffel produced your lamp. If your lamp is 20 to 99 years old, it is vintage. Older Stiffel lamps are antiques, and newer ones are contemporary. When in doubt, consult a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer. Find an assortment of Stiffel lamps on 1stDibs.
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