Vintage Brass Oil Lamp

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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.

10 Recommendations and 149 Ideas

Updated 15/12/2022
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Lantern style Antique Oil Lamp

Lantern style Antique Oil Lamp

HALLOLURE

This oil lantern comes with a metal U-shaped handle for transporting and offers a metal loop to hang it outside on your patio. Its classical design makes it weather-resistant, and the twist-off cap makes it easy to refill with oil. 

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Small Brass Oil Lamps (Set of Four)

Small Brass Oil Lamps (Set of Four)

Serene Spaces Living

With teardrop-shaped clear glass shades and shiny brass bowl bases are these miniature vintage oil lamps. They are lightweight, easy to carry, and will not obstruct other home decorative pieces resting on tables.

$51.52 $48

Designer Advice:

Their size is admirable to some, though it can be troublesome to those who prefer to fill the oil reservoir less often. Their four and a half inches tall design makes them ideal for lining entryway tables, narrow kitchen counters, and long banisters.

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Vintage Oil Lamp Without Glass Shade

Vintage Oil Lamp Without Glass Shade

Treasure Gurus

This unique colonial-aged maritime whale oil tin lamp has a matte pewter finish and comes with a thick, round braided rope wick and a flat metal handle. It weighs a pound and has a flat base for increased stability.

$22.48 $31.49

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Modern Antique Brass Paraffin Lamp

Modern Antique Brass Paraffin Lamp

TrueNorth

The smooth gold-finished base adds a combination of vintage and modern charm. This antique oil lamp features an advanced electroplating process, a nightlamp burner connector, a flat base bottom for steadiness, and a fluted glass cover.

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Patterned Antique Copper Oil Lamp

Patterned Antique Copper Oil Lamp

Vensila

This vintage copper oil lamp comes with a bulb floral-patterned copper base on three legs, a black painted handle, and a romantic rippled top, trumpet-shaped glass top. This creative lamp is handmade making each one unique.

Designer Advice:

The ornate design on this vintage oil lamp enhances eclectic, Victorian, and Mediterranean styles. Its pinkish-toned copper polished exterior is gorgeous when placed on mirrored coffee tables, entry tables, nightstands, and mirrored trays. Copper material is a heat conductor, so be cautious when picking up this lamp.

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Retro styled Vintage Oil Lamp

Retro styled Vintage Oil Lamp

TrueNorth

Made of stylish jade green glass with minimal detail, this antique oil lamp holds more oil and lasts a lot longer than others. It comes with two long wicks and stainless-steel tweezers to adjust and replace wicks easier.

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Mason Jar Antique Oil Lamp

Mason Jar Antique Oil Lamp

Albert Estate LTD

This greenish-blue tinted glass jar vintage oil lamp offers a farmhouse charm. It features a brass connector with a tiny turn handle and a narrow-necked, square-dimpled, and line-designed glass shade for an ambient glow.

$45.99 $54.99

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8
Vintage Oil Lamp with Porcelain Base

Vintage Oil Lamp with Porcelain Base

TrueNorth

This antique oil lamp is decorated with a floral bell-shaped glass shade and a floral-patterned white ceramic genie bottle base with a handle. This ultra-feminine and floral combination are easily added to a shabby chic style.

Designer Advice:

The upward-shaped handle offers a natural place to insert your thumb and the smooth bowl base, perfect for your palm. Its opaque base design is lovely on white distressed tables or black-marbled coffee tables. It is difficult to tell when oil is running low in an opaque base, so you will need to check it more frequently.

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Ornate Designed Vintage Brass Oil Lamp

Ornate Designed Vintage Brass Oil Lamp

TrueNorth

Windproof, high temperature resistant, and finished with an amber glass hue, is this compact and intricately designed antique oil lamp. A sculpted brass lotus flower sits just below the wick, allowing the flame to reflect a crisp warm glow. 

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Tall Two toned Glass Vintage Oil Lamp

Tall Two toned Glass Vintage Oil Lamp

Alcott Hill®

This nineteen-inch-tall all-glass antique oil lamp sits on a pink crystal textured stand and presents a bottle-shaped glass shade with a beaded top. Its egg-and-dart stamped oil center adds a neoclassical element and Victorian flair.

Designer Advice:

Tall antique oil lamps are best used as focal décor pieces. They are most gorgeous when placed on top of narrow entryway tables, wall shelves, or corner shelves. Because of its slender build, it tends to draw the eye upward making it appear taller than it truly is.

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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.

Best Ideas

Vintage brass hurricane oil lamp

Vintage brass hurricane oil lamp

Small is beautiful. The glass is beautiful - and the glass, in a small size with a brass base in vintage style - creates this antique hurricane brass oil lamp, which illuminates the corner at home in an ancient and unconventional way.

Vintage brass oil lamp 10

An Antique~English~Georgian~Victorian oil lamp with pink and brass finish. I don't like it very much, because of the pink color. But if you searching for sophisticated products, you should choose this lamp.

Early vintage brass oil lamp look with

Early vintage brass oil lamp look with

This vintage styled piece sports a truly beautiful look and will make for a charming opton of completing your bedroom or living room. It sports the oil mechanism to ensure even more authenticity and comes with the deep emerald finish of the shade.

Antique kerosene oil lamp vintage brass queen anne white flame

Antique Kerosene Oil Lamp Vintage Brass QUEEN ANNE, WHITE FLAME Burner, MI

Vintage brass oil lamp by rayo

Vintage brass oil lamp by rayo

Bring some vintage glamour and old-fashioned solutions to your home, with this gorgeous oil lamp. It boasts of rustic design, while standing on a lovely base made of robust metal in brass finish and holding a hand-blown clear glass hurricane.

Antique brass oil lamps 16

Oil lamp with an antique brass construction. This beautiful element of design provides small level of light. It looks very attractive in different stylizations. The upper area that provides light is made of glass.

Victorian oil lamps

The brass oil lamp was once the home's main source of light. Over time, its function has changed and it plays the role of a stylish decoration. It has a long history visible in the ceramic finish and hand-painted pink flowers that emphasize the brass elements.

Antique oil lamps brass antique 19c miniature tradesman oil lamp

antique oil lamps brass Antique 19c Miniature Tradesman Oil Lamp Tin w ...

Oil bargain basement antique oil lamp online 1

Oil Bargain Basement: Antique Oil Lamp online

Pair of vintage brass oil lamps india

Pair of vintage brass oil lamps india

Solidly finished, this pair of vintage brass oil lamps comes from India will enchant with its charming, appeal. Their silhouettes resemble a torch. A perfect, romantic illumination.

Antique brass oil lamp 9

antique brass oil lamp

Antique victorian duplex brass oil lamp

Antique victorian duplex brass oil lamp

Being a true antique, this rare brass oil lamp is a proposition for all classical, elegant interiors. It stands 12" high to the top of the burner x 6" in diameter across the base. It will need a good polishing, but apart from that everything works perfectly.

Vintners oil lamp

Vintners oil lamp

Fancy oil lamps

Measuring 22 inches, this 19th-century Roman style Brass Oil Lamp constitutes a perfect proposition for one's bed side table. It enchants with its well-maintained vintage brass finish.

Vintage oil lamps

And what if you go back to those magical times when the lamps were oil. You will then see such a collection of vintage lamps.Different colors of glass, combined with ceramic, wooden elements. They can be very personalized. Choose one, or - take them all.

Vintage oil lamps for sale

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.

Authentic totally handmade handcarved brass copper oil kerosene lamp vintage

Authentic Totally Handmade Handcarved Brass Copper Oil Kerosene Lamp Vintage | eBay

Royal oil lamp

Vintage Ornate Victorian Brass Oil Lamp by Miller Lamp Co Made in The USA |

Like this item 983

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Vintage Brass Oil Lamp with Reflective Hood by PanchosPorch, $45.00

Glass oil lamps antique

Antique Rayo Brass Oil Lamp

Antique oil lamps brass twin burner oil lamp

Antique Oil Lamps Brass twin burner oil lamp

Mini brass oil lamp

Mini Brass Oil Lamp

Hurricane Lantern Hand Designed Brass Lamp Decorative Cargo Oil Lamp Hanging Lamp Collectibles (Uses Lamp Oil or Kerosene)