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.


img_32-1.jpg

Treasures escape the Red Army

09 May 2022

German castle’s works of art hidden away in the war come to light in Munich saleroom

img_34-4.jpg

Sculptor on the crest of a wave

09 May 2022

The Austrian sculptor Gustav Gurschner, who was particularly productive at the beginning of the 20th century, designed many functional objects such as door knockers, doorknobs and ashtrays, encapsulating the style of Viennese Jugendstil.

img_21-4.jpg

First light of neoclassicism

02 May 2022

This 13in (33cm) ormolu vase candelabrum is a candidate for the earliest English neoclassical metalwork.

img_71-1.jpg

ATG letter: True maker of a handsome lamp revealed

25 April 2022

Like your reporter, for many years I also believed the lamp featured in ATG No 2538 (A Trio of Arts & Crafts designers in focus) was by Arthur Stansfeld Dixon, director, and chief designer of The Birmingham Guild of Handicraft.

Christopher Butterworth shop

Let there be light and music – two sales from well-known dealers come to auction this week

19 April 2022

Items from Pimlico Road dealer Christopher Butterworth and LAPADA dealer Tony Bingham are coming to auction in London and Essex.

img_14-1.jpg

A trio of Arts & Crafts designers in focus

11 April 2022

While the market for post-war wares by Thompson’s of Kilburn – particularly the animal and figure carvings – has grown substantially in recent years, the ‘prime period’ for Mouseman collecting remains the 1920s-30s.

img_12-4.jpg

Victorian lamps get clean away

04 April 2022

A large collection of Victorian oil lamps was sold by Fellows (23% buyer’s premium) as part of a timed online auction ending on March 15.

img_37-4.jpg

The web shop window: 19th century hall lantern

07 March 2022

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

Fabergé egg

Plea for help to track down stolen props from The Crown TV series

22 February 2022

The antiques trade is being asked to look out for a group of props stolen from the team behind Netflix’s The Crown that were taken from a lorry.

Gas lamp

Historic gas lamps win temporary reprieve after campaign led by antiques dealers

27 January 2022

Two antiques dealers and their supporters campaigning for Westminster Council to stop removing historic gas lamps have won a temporary reprieve.

img_26-1.jpg

Dec fair left unexpectedly leading the field

10 January 2022

The Decorative Fair becomes first major event to be held in 2022 after others are postponed.

img_39-3.jpg

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.

img_56-4.jpg

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.

img_1-2.jpg

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.

img_12-1.jpg

From portraits to kitchen china: Dewlish House auction

24 May 2021

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

img_72-4.jpg

Goldscheider lamp offered at Plauen sale

10 May 2021

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

img_73-1.jpg

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.

img_12-1.jpg

Furniture prices looking good in Berkshire auction

03 May 2021

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

img_23-1.jpg

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.

img_9-2.jpg

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.

Categories

News