Antiques Victorian Floor Lamp

Victorian lamps are by far the easiest to identify from among most of the lighting fixtures that were in prevalence from 1800-1900. As we mentioned earlier, everything was at its ornate best right from the time of the whale oil lamps to the kerosene lamps which replaced them, and the floor lamps which became prominent in the later part of the Victorian era, when electricity became commonly available.

Lampshades rose in popularity during this phase and fabric and shaded glass were the most commonly used shade materials. The irony though is that even the cheapest, utilitarian versions of these lamps used smoked white glass instead of clear glass.

Further, these shades were often hand-painted with floral designs and landscapes or featured delicate engravings. In the later part of the era, slag glass and case glass shades replaced fabric. Materials like mica and porcelain became popular.

Other than the ornate glass shades, Victorian floor lamps typically have tall stems which extend for a height of five to six feet from the base. The stems were mostly made of brass and are usually coated with Bronze and gold. Do the old magnet test to determine if its authentic brass.

Even the stems weren’t left undecorated though. Hand paintings and filigree were commonly used to decorate the stems as well as the bases.

One of the challenges in identification is that some of the early Victorian lamps do not have a distinctive maker’s mark. For example, the Pewter lamp. Other prominent lamp makers from the time are Eben Smith, Caper Molineux, Boardman Gleason.

There are a lot of cheap replicas that were made in India circa 1970 which have flooded the market and are sold as vintage Victorian lamps. Keep an eye out for these. Speak to an appraiser who can authenticate the lamp before you pay a hefty price for it.

What is the intended use of the antique lamp that you are looking to purchase? If it’s a centerpiece for the living room, then you are in luck. There will be no dearth of options. The caveat is that the lamp may not necessarily be in working condition.

If you intend to use it as a lighting fixture, then enquire about the condition of the lamp. Many antique resellers acquire the base of the lamp in good condition and then source a matching lampshade for it.

Others swap the old oil wick and cylinder for an electric bulb which reduces the value somewhat. In either case, the seller must be transparent about any modifications or alterations performed.

Look at the size of the stem. If it will be placed adjacent to a sofa or a cushion as a reading lamp, then five feet is just about the right size. But you can also find floor to ceiling lamps which throw the light off the ceiling to create a diffused ambiance.