Solid Brass Lamps
Buy the best solid brass lamps selected and recommended by interior designers. By Vanessa Weber.
Brass lamps are classy, versatile and surprisingly affordable. This warm metal is a lovely antidote to the cooler metals that have taken center stage over the past decade. And with new decor flexibility that encourages mixing metals, adding a brass lamp or two to your styling feels sophisticated and smart. There’s a brass lamp for every design style, and even though it looks rich and luxurious, this metal is surprisingly affordable. Lighting is often referred to as the jewelry of a room, and these eight examples show that to be entirely true!
Solid Brass Lamps
Buying Guide
Vanessa Weber
Interior Design Expert
Vanessa is a New York-based designer specializing in architectural lighting. Whether you are planning an event, want to illuminate your backyard retreat or simply need advice on what lamp to purchase for your bedroom, Vanessa will be more than happy to share her knowledge and expertise.
An antique solid brass table lamp is a stunning addition to your home library and provides soft ambient light when placed on a console table or sideboard or makes an excellent task light when positioned at the corner of a desk or on an end table.
If you are using your lamp as a reading light in your home library, the lamp base should be placed toward the edge of the end table closest to the chair’s armrest, with the lamp shade sitting at the same height as your eyes.
If you regularly use your home library as an office, you need targeted task lighting. Opt for an antique brass banker’s lamp with an elongated shade and place it at the corner of your desk, using cable ties or hooks to organize the wires.
Antique brass table lamps also look stunning placed at either end of a buffet or sideboard in a home library. Choose pieces with bell or empire-shaped shades that diffuse light for an intimate ambiance.
An antique solid brass table lamp is a durable accessory and does not rust. Brass is a metal alloy made of copper and zinc. Because brass does not contain iron, it does not rust; however, it may corrode or oxidize when exposed to water. This is not a problem for solid brass lamps as long as you keep them away from sources of moisture.
The oxidized brass has patches of black, green, or blue on its surface. Oxidation on an antique brass accessory is known as “patina” and adds to its antique charm. If you prefer to remove oxidation from your brass lamp, grab a brass cleaner from your local hardware store and restore the lamp to its original state. The good news is that brass doesn’t rust, so whether you choose an oxidized or shiny brass look, your antique lamp is a long-lasting, decorative point for your room.