Vintage Brass Oil Lamp

Buy the best vintage brass oil lamp selected and recommended by interior designers. By Vanessa Weber.

A vintage oil lamp is both a fashion statement and can be used during a power outage. Some lamps are made with built-in metal, ceramic, or glass handles for a better grip during transportation between rooms or to an outdoor patio. Oil lamps with handles are terrific on nightstands and middle-of-the-night bathroom trips, while taller oil lamps are splendid focal points on dining room tables. If you are searching for smaller-sized less conspicuous oil lamps, we have those too.

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Vintage Brass Oil Lamp

Buying Guide

Someone wise once said that, ‘If you’re looking for a bit of class, you can never go wrong with brass’. Couldn’t be truer. Brass is ethereal. It is classy, elegant and functional.

When it gets exposed to the elements, it develops what most people call a ‘patina’, which is unique to each piece. Layers upon layers of naturally formed hues and shades mark every antique brass décor piece that we’ve ever laid eyes upon.

Among them all, brass oil lamps form a large chunk of our collectibles inventory. If you too are allured by the rustic charm of vintage brass oil lamps, then here’s a small checklist to help you go shopping with.

To ensure that you don’t end up being fobbed off, do your homework on the different types of antique oil lamps. Some of them are:

  • Cruisie lamp – 16th Century – Typically made of cast brass and had a second oil reservoir to catch the spills from the first – Extremely rare to find one in good condition
  • Betty Lamp – 17th Century – One of the most common and popular types of oil lamps, the betty lamp was a marked improvement over its predecessors. It was more efficient and prevented oil wastage
  • Argand Lamp – Late 17th Century – Also known as the Central draft lamp, the Argand lamp is considered as the inspiration behind many of the popular oil lamp designs that followed. It spawned numerous spin-offs like the Quinquet, Lewis and Bude lamps. The original argans are quite rare. They are top heavy and cast a very unique shadow far away from the flame.
  • Tiffany Lamp – 19th Century – Tiffany lamps swept through the modern world in the Art Noveau period. The incredibly ornate stained leaded glass lampshades are every collector’s dream.

This is not by far, the most exhaustive list of vintage oil lamps. Brass lamps were made in almost every country in a variety of designs with influences from ancient Roman, Victorian and Indian culture.

One of the easiest ways to spot an antique brass lamp is to identify its manufacturer. It’s easier said than done though. Manufacturers usually left a mark, a number, a patent or a pattern (logo) on the flame spreader, the font top, the wick winder or on the filler cap. Some even left it elsewhere on the lamp.

Grab a magnifying glass and scan the oil lamp for any minute detail that might indicate the exact year and time in which it was manufactured. Some of the most popular brands are:

  • Aladdin Lamps. Was earlier known as the Mantle Lamp Company
  • Thomas Sanders Ltd
  • Benham Froud
  • Birmingham Brass Co
  • Bullpit Sons
  • Lempreur Bernard (LB)
  • Belgian Lamp Co
  • Kosmos Brenner
  • Miller
  • Tiffany
  • Smith Davis

All said and done, vintage brass oil lamps can cost a pretty penny, especially if they are in immaculate condition.

Irrespective of whether you are trying to ascertain the value of a lamp you chance discovered in the attic or trying to find whether the price tag on eBay is reasonable enough, here’s how you can ascertain the value of the lamp.

  • Check the condition. Are there any missing parts? Is the lamp working? What about dents or scratches?
  • Does it retain the oil wick and burner or has it been electrified? A lot of antique lighting fixtures were electrified which reduces its value somewhat.
  • Identify the manufacturer and the time. The rarer the lamp, the higher it will cost.

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This gorgeous brass oil lamp will be a real bargain for all vintage fans. Stamped H & J Sangsters Patent, June 1851, withstood fantastically the test of time. It measures 20 inches high.

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