Antique Lighting and Light Fixtures

Antique Lighting Fixtures

Antique lighting fixtures, if they are genuine antiques, not reproductions, can be an excellent investment as well as a way of enhancing your property. The earliest antique lights are oil lamps dating back to Roman times but these are of little value as forms of lighting. Antique lighting is nowadays usually understood to mean fixtures that date between the 16th and the early 20th centuries. Lighting for the rich over that period of time changed from wooden chandeliers to gas lamps and then to electric lights made from wrought iron, brass, bronze and crystal. OAt the same time, sconces and table lamps became increasingly fashionable.

Choosing Your Antique Lighting Fixture

When choosing antique lights it is important to consider that the lights should not only be in a style you like, but also that the lights are complete, i.e. there are no parts missing, as missing parts will be very difficult to replace.

You need also to consider of course which room the lighting is designed for. In your dining room for example do you want a drop light or a chandelier or ceiling lights ? For chandeliers, make sure you use low-voltage electric bulbs.

You can also add sconces to provide fill-in lighting. Don't forget also to take into consideration the height of the ceiling when choosing your light fixture. A drop bowl, for example, will create a wonderful all round light source that is indirect and washes the whole space.

Antique pendants are ideal for lighting kitchen islands, sinks or open counters, and can be supplemented by lights directly over cabinets.

 In the bedroom you will probably prefer to use at least one kind of sconce to provide fill-in lighting, plus fixtures near the bed.

Your budget will of course greatly influence your choice of lighting fixture. Genuine antiques will generally cost a lot, but bear in mind that over the last 10 years, antique lights have more than tripled in price. The positive aspect of this is that your lighting will represent a good investment as it will probably increae in value over the years.

It is important to ensure that any genuine antiques you buy have a warranty from a recognized and trusted epxert.  Some less scrupulous dealers in fact sell so-called antique lighting fixtures that in reality contain only parts that are antique, the rest of the fixture being reproduction. Reproductions can be excellent lights too but it is important to know exactly what it is that you are buying and not to overpay for a reproduction in the belief that it is an antique.