What’s a good reference for antique lamps?
Question by davidgarciadrg: What’s a good reference for antique lamps?
I’ve been given an antique lamp and want to have the wiring redone before I put it to use. Though not experts, the friends and family I’ve spoken to swear the lamp must be an antique, due to its design and material.
Before I leave it in the hands of a restoration shop I’d like to narrow down this lamp’s origin as much as possible on my own. Any good books or websites? – And any advice about what I should be wary of at an antique restoration shop would be helpful too. Thanks!
Best answer:
Answer by Bare B
There are at least a half dozen guides to antique lamps that I know of. As a part time auctioneer, I come across lamps occasionally, and have to look one up. Best bet, unless you want to buy a book, is to check the library. You could also go to Barnes and Noble, and read up on your lamp.
Check the bottom of the lamp to see if there are any marks there. Copy them down for reference when you look them up. They will tell you who made the lamp, as well as an approximate age.
You could also take the lamp to an auctioneer or antique dealer and they may be able to enlighten you. If it were me, I would do this for you, but they may charge you a small fee.
Next, only allow the restorer to change the cords, plug, lamp base, if necessary. Do NOT allow him to alter the lamp in ANY way from it’s original design. Changing these items will not decrease your value, but drilling a hole bigger to acommodate a larger cord will. Ask him what he will do to fix the lamp, and be VERY clear with him that he is not to alter the lamp. Do not remove any finish or refinish the lamp. Some lamps are copper based, and the patina that has happened over time is important.
Tell your restorer that you want the old parts. If you ever decide to sell the lamp, you will have the original parts.
Lastly, enjoy your antique!
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Is it a converted oil or kerosene lamp? If it’s arts and crafts, stained glass or hammered copper with a mica shade, Roycraft, Stickley, Handel. Tiffany etc.? If it’s arts and crafts don’t polish the metal take it to a Restoration shop that knows it business. Also is it a converted decanter, vase or other decorative object.?
It’s probably Deco… Many lamps come from this period, many survived because they had metal bases and glass shades which often don’t survive.
I don’t know for sure because I haven’t seen it.
Look for a mark on the bottom or near the bottom of the base. One of the best from this period was Pairpoint (The letter P inside a diamond.) the other was obviously Tiffany. L.C.T. (Louis comfort Tiffany.) Both will be marked. There are dozens of different valuable makers of lamps…
Like I said it is impossible to know for sure without seeing so i am guessing at best…
Try WWW. Kovels.com. or EBay. EBay will not offer you actual value but rather what a similar object is worth to anyone willing to actually purchase it. You will get much better actual value from a reference book or an actual auctioneer.