How to recognize an old lamp?

Do you have an antique or vintage lamp that might have some value?

Antique lamps are not very difficult to find these days, especially with the renewed interest in antique stores, auctions, estate sales, flea markets and furniture stores.

There are a wide variety of lamps you can buy, but how do you know if your lamp is trash or treasure?

In this guide, we reveal some of the obvious clues to look for when inspecting your lamp, as well as some of the most common lamps that are fetching fantastic prices today.

How to identify an old lamp?

Before we dive into identifying lamps, it is important to explain the differences between antique, vintage, and modern lamps .

According to the industry definition, an antique is a collectible that has a considerable age of 100 years or more.

The term " vintage " is a little trickier to define, as these furnishing terms are often interchanged to distract from the imperfections of the lamps.

While an antique is a collectible that is over 100 years old, a vintage item is tied to the era in which it was made or became ubiquitous.

We often attribute the term "vintage" to items less than 100 years old, but not to items less than 20 years old.

However, the age of a lamp does not correspond to a high value. Modern lamps can be worth a fortune as collectibles, depending on the manufacturer or the circumstances of their production.

1) Study the condition of the lamp

Examine the general condition of your old lamp to see if there is any damage or if repairs are possible.

Damage can reduce the value of a lamp, but it won't necessarily reduce the value of a rare item. If your lamp is electric, try plugging it in to see if it lights up.

Unplug the lamp and inspect it for telltale signs of hardware repairs and modern updates, such as glued cracks, paint touch-ups, etc.

Lamps are often more valuable when left in their original condition with most or all original parts.

Lightly scratch the underside of the lamp's surface to determine what type of material it is made of. Some lamps may appear to be made of metal, but they may also be painted to look and feel like metal.

Inspect the lampshade by pinching it between your thumb and forefinger. If the shade is greasy or brittle, chances are it is old or the original shade from your lamp.

2) Check the manufacturer's label

Lamps made by renowned designers usually bear the name of a company.

Some of the most famous designers include Handel Company, Tiffany Studios, Duffner and Kimberly, Dirk Van Erp Studio, Edward Miller and Company, Fulper and Roycroft. If you can't find a decisive label, you can find other clues that will help you know the make and model of your old lamp.

You may find a dated stamp or maker's mark embedded in the base or on the fixture. However, you should not assume that the lamp and shade are part of an original pair.

Many lampshades are replaced over time. Consult lamp guides or available reference books to determine the manufacturer, lamp model, and year of production based on the clues you find.

3) Look at the accessories

Unbeknownst to many, the value of a lamp's accessories and decorations can be greater than the value of the lamp itself.

Many lamp finials were made of bone, cinnabar, ivory, jade, pink tourmaline, rose quartz or other rare materials that are now very expensive.

Old bulbs can also be worth more than a lamp.

Edison bulbs and early Weston bulbs can fetch thousands of dollars as collectibles. Finally, don't forget the lampshade.

Some of the most iconic lampshades are made from iridescent Favrile glass and intricate glass mosaics, as well as fabric and parchment.