Victorian Lamps And Lamp Shades: Vintage Floor, Table And Oil Lamps

Furnishing a new home takes patience and costs money. But the most important factor that goes into purchasing furniture and other accessories for empty rooms might be style. Before attempting to furnish the room, one must decide what the room's style will be – modern, rustic, Victorian, or any other choice. If the Victorian style seems right, then antique, Victorian lamps are a necessity.

Victorian lamps come in a variety of shapes and sizes including the Victorian floor lamp and the Victorian table lamp. Modern, electric Victorian lamps are widely available, but antique Victorian oil lamps are also a popular choice. A heavy, dark metal base (often brass), carved into ornate patterns to compliment the shade, is characteristic of Victorian lamps. Both the base and the shade of Victorian lamps contain splendid, intricate designs. Although the embellished base is often beautiful in itself, the shades of these vintage lamps are the focal points.

Victorian lamp shades come in many colors and styles. They often look and feel smooth and satiny and showcase a particular pattern or design. They range from a cream-colored, rounded, lace-embellished shade with long, beaded fringe to a wide, dark purple flowered shade with fringe that alternates in lengths like a wave. Both table and floor lamps come in a wide variety of ornate shades that look beautiful while still performing their original function – to soften the harsh light radiating from the bulb. The darker the shade, the darker the light, and the more intimate the room will feel. This feature is another positive for Victorian lamps.

While almost all Victorian floor lamps come with shades, Victorian table lamps are often fitted for a glass covering for the bulb. The glass covering can either be spherical or shaped like a traditional shade. Glass coverings for Victorian lamps are often cut with different designs, making the glass feel bumpy with floral and other patterns. The glass can be any color, from a baby blue to a rose red. Most glass shades for Victorian lamps are at least somewhat transparent; the transparency lessens when a glass covering is painted. Often, the paint, typically swirled in lilacs or roses, makes for a brilliant and beautiful lamp. Victorian oil lamps usually come with glass shades that are opened at the top, allowing  the flame's light to flicker throughout the room.

Victorian lamps, especially ones with hand-painted glass shades, can be quite expensive. A Victorian table lamp with a hand-painted glass covering costs $514.48 at Antique Lamp Supply, while vintage lamps with non-painted glass shade typically ranges from $280.29 to about $320. Across-The-Board Woodworks sells Victorian table lamps with regular, fringed shades. They can be purchased from about $329 to $378. Victorian floor lamps usually cost more, ranging from about $275 to $629 for the base alone. Shades for Victorian lamps can be priced from $119 to $310. The more elaborate the base or shade, the more expensive the Victorian lamp.

Victorian lamps can be a welcome addition in any home, thanks to their beautiful appearances and the softened light they provide. Even if one does not want to furnish a whole room in the antique style, Victorian lamps add class to any space they occupy.


Sources:
Bridge Lamps & Floor Lamps. Across-The-Board Woodworks. 2007. 25 June 2007.
http://www.acrosstheboardwoodwork.com/bridge_lam ps.htm
Custom Designed Table Lamps. Across-The-Board Woodworks. 2007. 25 June 2007.
http://www.acrosstheboardwoodwork.com/custom_tab le_lamp.htm
Oil Lamp Glass Shades Antique & Collectable. The Oil Lamp Store. 2001. 25 June 2007.
http://www.theoillampstore.com/Oil_Lamp_Glass_Sh ades_Antique_And_Collectable.htm
Table Lamps - Victorian / Astral. Antique Lamp Supply. 2007. 25 June 2007.
http://www.antiquelampsupply.com/category/79/