Antiques Victorian Floor Lamp

Looking for something innovative and classic at the same time? In this case, you should definitely discover all the Victorian style floor lamps that are shown in this collection. They differ when it comes to their sizes, shapes and designs so you shouldn’t find it too difficult to choose something for yourself.

Vanessa WeberInterior Design Expert

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Have you been searching for a lamp that just does not look like the typical lamp? Well, you need to consider this standing oil lamp, which has got the Victorian style, round shade with flowers and brass finish.

Full of meticulous details, boasting carefully curated stained glass composition, scroll carving, cabriole feet and crown top molding, this Tiffany style Victorian pedestal lamp is definitely a true stunner.

This pair of antique Victorian floor lamp enchants with their antique brass finish. Their sturdy finish enabled to withstand smoothly the test of time. A perfect way to add some refinement to one's classic or traditional interiors.

This antique floor lamp with a one-of-a-kind, ornamental shade represents perfectly well the Victorian style. Intricate design, full of curves and volutes is brilliantly surmounted with a lovely little bird on the top.

Such a lamp would have used Queen Victoria herself at her court. Richly decorated in pastel floral motifs, including fringes and great precisoin. This antique floor lamp has a gold finish and is hand-painted. The base of the lamp is delicate, hand-decorated.

Such a lamp could be borrowed from the Queen Vicotria. She was an expert in good taste. Embroidered by hand, in beige shades, with lace and fringes with little amber.It also includes handmade floral motifs. Made of burn-out silk velvet with peacocks.

This antique floor lamp enchants with its intricate design. Curved, richly adorned silhouette constitutes a beautiful base for the floral-patterned, spherical shade.

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Our advice Buying Guide

The grandeur and opulence of the Victorian era are synonymous with their stunning light fixtures. Be it the elaborate chandeliers, the banquet lamps, candelabras or the more ubiquitous floor lamps, form was always considered as important as function.

Right from the shades, to the hand-blown glass to the delicately carved and decorated bases, Victorian lamps make excellent accent pieces and focal points. Today, these antique lamps command a hefty price tag in the collector’s market, which also makes them most likely to be counterfeited.

Here are a few boxes to tick off, if you are shopping for antique Victorian floor lamps.

How to identify Victorian lamps?

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.

How are you going to use your Victorian lamp?

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.

What's the proper height for a Victorian floor lamp?

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.