Antique Chinese Lamps
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.
Antique Chinese lamps can give any space a vintage luxury vibe. You can choose a lamp with a bold, colorful palette, a white and blue color scheme, or a plain lamp base with an elegant floral motif, among other signature looks. Vintage Chinese lamps can also incorporate certain colors - red, green, blue, yellow, or orange. And it can have scrolls, specific cultural imagery, and varying lamp base and shade shapes. Many authentic Chinese lamps are crafted and handmade by artisans.
Our Picks
Discreet Neutral Antique Chinese Lamp
This 20” H by 12” D and W antique Chinese lamp has a white textured, glazed porcelain base with an elegant yet neutral cherry blossom motif. The 12” W by 12” D lampshade has a round metal base in cream fabric.
Designer Advice:
There are several signature traits of antique Chinese lamps. One way to tell if your lamp is inspired by ancient China is the base. It’s usually porcelain with a glazed textured surface. But the color, the shape of the bottom, and the imagery accents can vary greatly. Another common feature of vintage oriental lamps is floral elements.
Vintage Asian Oriental Motif Porcelain Lamp
This compact 15” H x D by 8” W porcelain lamp has a hand-painted Oriental motif in a rich multi-color palette. An 11” D and W flared lamp shade in a neutral off-white and round floral cap finishes the look.
Designer Advice:
Many Chinese lamps also have a motif in multiple colors, many of that are bold and bright. Popular colors for floral motif paint accents are red, jade green, blue, orange, and yellow. It’s also typical to see most antique Chinese table lamps rather than tall stand-alone lights. These table lamps are usually compact and elevated on a lifted base.
Blue Toned Tea Candy Box Chinese Lamp
This 15” H by 11” deep and wide porcelain tea candy box lamp has a traditional Oriental hand-painted motif in blue over a white base. The neutral 11” W and D lampshade has a flared bottom and a painted glass cap.
Designer Advice:
A tea candy box lamp base offers a unique look over the traditional round or vase shape. To qualify as a tea candy box, it has an elevated base with rectangular to oval sides with a prominent enlarged top rim. It can also have a sculpted lamp neck, like this bulbous design. And many Chinese lamps also have a decorative shade cap.
Vase Shaped Antique Chinese Lamp
This 29” H by 18” W and D Asian vase-shaped porcelain lamp has a Ming landscape design in blue and white. It rests on a dark rosewood base and has a matching cap that secures the pleated 18” W by D white shade.
Designer Advice:
Another signature point of antique Chinese vase lamp designs is a subtle yet classic blue-on-white palette. You often see hazy aged blue ink used for patterns printed on a glossy or flat matte base. This color palette often accompanies a rich wood lamp base in a neutral natural stain that complements a landscape scene.
Antique Diamond Base Bold Chinese Lamp
This unique diamond shaped 24” H by 13” D by 6” W porcelain lamp has a bold red base with a bright, colorful floral motif. A 13” W by 9” D off-white square fabric shade is kept on with a matching red knob.
Designer Advice:
Antique Chinese porcelain table lamps with a charming diamond base can create a one-of-a-kind aesthetic. A rich saturated color palette - like this bold red - would accent the base’s unique shape. While a wood platform with slightly curved feet adds an extra bit of natural aesthetical nuance. And the elevated height makes the square shade feel modern and minimalistic.
