Lighting

Antique lighting can range from simple terracotta roman oil lamps or a pewter candlesticks to elaborate and impressive chandeliers.

In between come a whole range of different lighting forms depending on country of origin or their specific function. They encompass enamelled glass mosque lamps from Middle Eastern countries; European giltwood or ormolu wall brackets; figural torchères that hold lamps or the coloured glass creations from the likes of Daum and Gallé in Northern France to Tiffany’s distinctive American designs.

With the arrival of electricity, lighting gradually became more functional and simplified. Today lights by inter- or post-war Scandinavian or ‘50s and ‘60s Italian designers have acquired the status of design classics.


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The web shop window: Maison Jansen floor lamp

15 November 2021

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.

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The hat fits for Lutyens

13 September 2021

Sir Edwin Lutyens (1869-1944) designed a number of daring light fittings for his architectural projects – all of them rare and desirable objects.

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French candelabra shine out at summer auction in Yorkshire

26 July 2021

Leading the Summer Fine Sale at Tennants in Leyburn was this pair of French ormolu-mounted, white marble and porphyry candelabra.

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From portraits to kitchen china: Dewlish House auction

24 May 2021

Dewlish House yields ‘good old-fashioned house sale with everything on offer’

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Goldscheider lamp offered at Plauen sale

10 May 2021

'Orangepflückerin' (Orange Picker) lamp by Goldscheider up at auction in Germany.

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Triennale floor lamp lights the way at Hindman

10 May 2021

On May 20 Hindman's Modern Design sale encompasses works by American and European designers including those from France, Italy and Scandinavia.

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Furniture prices looking good in Berkshire auction

03 May 2021

Fifteen furniture lots make five-figure sums as Dreweatts bidders show encouraging confidence

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Elkington Paradise found but not at silver price level

08 March 2021

If the famous image of the Milton Shield by Elkington and its £800-1200 estimate drew a double-take at a recent auction, there was good reason.

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Table lamp made of synthetic material lights up auction

23 November 2020

Ottoman bead carvers in Istanbul – makers of the garlands of beads known as tesbih and komboloi – were swift to appreciate the potential of Bakelite in c.1910.

Lalanne hippopotamus bathroom suite

Early summer sales in Paris awash with modern design highlights

23 July 2020

Among the high-season sales traditionally staged in Paris in the early summer is a selection of auctions devoted to modern design.

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Candlesticks shine online at Michael Bowman's homespun sale

27 April 2020

A recent sale conducted by Michael Bowman (17.5% buyer’s premium) in Newton Abbot, Devon was a homespun affair – held in the auctioneer’s house, with his wife handling phone and commission bids and two assistants operating the bidding platforms remotely by way of a loudspeaker mobile phone link.

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Chandelier shines in Los Angeles

23 March 2020

A highlight of the sale held by Andrew Jones (25% buyer’s premium) in Los Angeles on February 23 was this impressive 24-light cut and moulded glass chandelier with a 6ft 6in (1.98m) drop.

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Decorative furniture and lighting in flamboyant style forms core of single collection

02 March 2020

“A fabulous example of how an auctioneer can sell these collections so successfully outside of London,” said Dreweatts’ (25% buyer’s premium) managing director Jonathan Pratt in the wake of Donnington Priory’s latest auction of European furniture and works of art.

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Organisers return to Croydon for another event in an impressive venue

02 March 2020

Alison Davis and Alan Old of So Last Century Vintage and Retro Fairs run their London events in suitably historic and interesting buildings.

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Modern design delights from husband-and-wife architects behind the new British Library

17 February 2020

The recent auction of 20th century design at Sworders (25% buyer’s premium) in Stansted Mountfitchet was underpinned by more than 60 consignments from the estate of MJ Long.

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Mid-century in the mainstream but dealer highlights the eco difference between period and ‘style’

16 September 2019

Mid-century style is very much on the rise at the moment – as the organisers of the two Midcentury Shows in London know well.

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The web shop window: English silver-plated student lamps

19 August 2019

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.

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Interview: Casting light on bicycle lamps

15 July 2019

Peter Card’s fascination with this niche area stretches to the joy of extensive research

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5 Questions: Toby Jones

15 April 2019

Toby Jones of Jones Antique Lighting specialises in early 20th century decorative antique lighting.

Dalí lamps

Salvador Dalí’s surrealist ‘champagne’ lamps designed for West Sussex home bought by V&A Museum

19 March 2019

A pair of ‘champagne’ lamps designed by surrealist artist Salvador Dalí has been bought by the Victoria and Albert Museum and will be reunited with Dalí’s Mae West Lips sofa.

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