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Antique Lamps and the Question of Value

An antique is not held to be an antique until it’s had its 100th birthday.  It’s this centenary that gives it the title “antique”.  However, it is not just the age of the object that classifies its value.  

By example, a little Roman oil lamp in original condition can be purchased for a very small price, although the lamp was made in some provincial Roman pottery in the year A.D 100.  The reason is that these little oil burning, pottery lamps were made by the thousand, lamps of this style being the standard throughout the vast Roman Empire.  Even with losses through breakage and damage over the past 2000 years, very large numbers are still available for a small price today.

Availability and condition are two major factors which influence the value of antique lighting, in fact, all art and antiques are subject to this rule.

Other influencing factors are –

The aesthetic value, i.e. “the look of the lamp”

The functional value as a source of lighting

The complimentary value to the interior

The rarity of the lamp

If it were produced by a famous maker

The provenance of the lamp

The Antique and Vintage Table Lamp Co understand these combined factors and, in fact, include many more in offering their range of antique and vintage lamps.  Not generally understood is that the careful restoration of an antique lamp, can be, and mostly is, an expensive exercise, with the input of fine metal turners, wood turners, gold platers, water gilders, polishers, electricians etc.

A good antique lamp combines two principal factors, form and function, with the leading factor being function ie to provide satisfactory interior lighting.  Besides being a functional light however, it also offers a constant visual pleasure.  It is well worth noting, that a fine quality antique lamp is not just a light!  It can and does offer a lot more as an investment, not only from a monitory point of view, but also as an investment in our quality of life.

                            

A very fine, large pair of 19th century, Paris, porcelain table lamps.
The porcelain produced at Limoges and, as was the practice,
sent to Paris to be decorated.
Paris was the centre for the decoration of porcelain with many small
one-person decorators to substantial workshops.
The lamps enamelled with a pale pink ground known as
“angel skin” or “blush”.
The lamps with oval shaped reserves in a rich burgundy ground,
painted with classical Roman busts en grisaille,
a painters’ technique by which an image is painted in shades of grey,
giving the image a modelled appearance,
creating the illusion of sculpture.
The lamp bases and caps of turned, gold plated bronze.

The Antique & Vintage Table Lamp Co has had a combined 27 years of practical experience in the design and restoration of antique lamps.  The company invites you to visit their web site at www.antiquelampshop.com 

© The Antique & Vintage Table Lamp Co 2008

About the Author

Maurice Robertson, principal of The Antique and Vintage Table Lamp Co , has had a lifetime’s association with antique porcelain and pottery.
His commercial experience spans a period of 40 years. This includes 25 years as an international specialist dealer. His long experience with antique ceramics and glass also includes dealing with leading museums and numerous international private collections.
Extending his ceramics expertise into the quality table lamps seen on the company’s site, he is well known to local and international interior designers who have included many of his table lamps in their projects and has also supplied items of national interest to the official Sydney residence of the Australian Prime Minister.

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