Study Lamps Per Era

Simply saying that you want an antique lighting fixture is too general. Different lamps from different time periods have different characteristics and identifying marks. Make sure you zero in on one particular era and study the lamps from that time. Take note of designs and cuts that are unique only to the lamps from a certain era. It might help if you took the time to read books that describe specific lamp traits from an era.

Consult Specialists

Even if you spend a lot of your free time just studying antique lamps, you may not always become the most skilled at antique evaluation. If you are not confident with the skill you have gained, it is always best to approach a specialist instead to help you evaluate an antique piece. Experts of antique lamps may even do more than just evaluate a piece. They may also recommend some procedures and other experts to help you date your lamp accurately.

Buy in the Right Places

Antique lighting pieces can be found almost anywhere. If you are a good scavenger, you might just find the best pieces at auction sites and garage sales. It is however, usually only a good idea to buy from these places if you are an expert at assessing antique pieces. If you are not, you could end up getting scammed. Instead of buying from unknown sources, you can instead proceed to reputable antique shops or dealers. Local auctions may also hold sales for authentic antique pieces.

Scam Artists Have Techniques

Those who sell fake old lamps are getting craftier. Instead of selling whole fake pieces, they can sell fake pieces that are carefully paired with some genuine parts. This is to create the impression of authenticity. If you do not carefully look into the different parts, you could get scammed.

Be Careful with Lamp Use

Even if you do manage to get a real antique lamp, you should be careful with what you decide to do with your lamp. Many antique pieces are non-compliant with current safety standards related to tipping and cord fraying.

One can never underestimate the importance of reading light. It can help you prevent not just temporary eye strain but eventual damage to your vision as well. This is not just about getting just any kind of light. It has to be the right kind of reading light as well. You need one that doesn’t produce shadows and isn’t too glaring either. Here are some tips to help you pick the right reading light.

·    Evaluate your space, preference and where you usually stay to read. Reading in different places like your couch, work desk or bed will require you to get different reading light fixtures. Depending on your position, you can get a floor lamp for reading, a table lamp, a desk lamp or a wall lamp.

·    The height of your lamp matters a lot. It should be tall so that it can provide a direct spotlight on what you are reading and does not cast shadows. On the other hand, if your lamp is just too tall, you could suffer from the constant glare from the bulb that is higher than your eye level.

·    You could choose a reading lamp that can be adjusted. Some have flexible necks or shades so that you can easily reposition them in the position that is most comfortable for reading.

·    A good clear light is always best for reading but different people are comfortable with different levels of lighting. You can opt to get a reading light fixture with a dimmer so you can adjust the light to the level that is best for you.

·    Sometimes, dark shadows and glare are produced because of where you position your light fixture. Putting it too low behind you or on a low side table can cast those eye-straining shadows. Putting it too near your face or upfront can produce glare.

·    Incandescent lighting is always well appreciated for its warm glow. It may not however, be always best for reading. It is not very energy efficient and produces a lot of heat. You would probably do better with fluorescent lighting for reading.

Reading lamps are your best protection against eye damage. This is why it is always important to only get the right kind of lamp for reading. Choose carefully and help save your eyes.

Modern Lamps with Oil

Lamps that run on oil are rarely ever used these days for functional reasons. Proper incandescent or fluorescent lighting are preferred and necessary when one has to read or work. Lamps that contain oil however have other great uses. Here is why you might want to own classic or modern oil-run lamps:

·    The appearance of an oil unit is often the sole reason why people choose to have them. The classic, elegant look of this kind of lamp simply communicates warmth, comfort and beauty. These lamps are perfect to set a romantic mood or simply create the sensation of stepping back into another time and place.

·    Aside from setting the mood through the light it produces, a lamp can also be used for aromatherapy. Scented oils used for these lamps can be a source of great relaxation.

·    An oil lamp dispenses with the inconvenience and discomfort of having candles on the table. Candles can smoke and produce a waxy mess on your table. Modern wick designs make sure that smoke doesn’t come out from your lamp.

·    The flame from this sort of lamp is as gentle as candlelight but is not as glaring or  impersonal as the light from a bulb.

·    Some people simply want to have real authentic antique lamp pieces. With these lamps, the wick may have to be replaced at some point after prolonged use. Modern lamps however now have wicks made of fiberglass. With proper use and care, these wicks can last a very long time.

Lamp Safety and Care

If you are convinced that an oil lamp is ideal for you, then you need to remember to never put lamps on an irregular surface and keep them away from small children.

Common sense should also dictate that kerosene and gas are no longer safe and acceptable for use with lamps. Liquid paraffin is now the standard source of fuel for oil lamp types. There are however, other acceptable kinds of fuel used like the scented type. Do remember though that switching from one fuel type to another may affect the durability of your lamp and wick.

Oil lamps are truly beautiful pieces of art. If you are ready to have one of your own, make sure to take proper care and safety precautions.

Desk vs. Other Lamps

Like table lamps, those for desks are often used for reading or lighting small work spaces. Table lamps can also be placed on desks but they often take up a lot of space. If you are an executive, designer, architect or student with a lot of papers strewn around, you would need as much space as you can have on your table. A table lamp with a wide base can hardly give you that space. A lamp that has been specially made for desks however, can fit in just perfectly.

Different Lamps for Desks

Just as each table lamp is differently designed, there are also different desk lamp styles. Their shades and body lengths may differ. They may hug a table closely or may tower a little bit over a work space. In a lot of cases, designs for lamps on desks are not merely for decorative purposes. The designs also have some use depending on your needs. That is why it is important to find out what you want to use your lamp for.

Artist desk lamps usually have long bodies that can be bent at the middle. They have wide but focused lighting. This kind of desk lamp is perfect for anyone who needs a lot of working space and a sufficient adjustable light source. Others, who just need to read some papers may do well with a lamp with a long shade that comes close to the desk surface.

Type of Light

The type of light source used on your lamp can also help determine how useful it is for your desk work. Desk lighting can carry fluorescent, incandescent or LED types of lighting. Incandescent light can give a warm, less irritating glow but usually gives off a lot of heat. You may not want this if your hands or some part of your body has to stay underneath a desk lamp for some time. Fluorescent lighting generally gives off less heat and more light.
LED lighting is another type of light that is now increasingly being used for a lot of desk lighting. LED lights however have a wide range of efficiency capacities depending on what you use them for. Your LED powered desk light may therefore not have the same light quality as all other LED lamps.

Desk lamps are tops in functionality. The usefulness of your lamp though usually depends on how well you have chosen your lamp.

Tiffany’s Work

The term Tiffany is actually considered by many as a different form of art all by itself. It all began with Louis Comfort Tiffany who found a way to artistically put together stained glass. Among his many treasured and prized pieces of work are his authentic lamps.

Since the late 1800s to the 1900s however, Tiffany has not been alone in creating stained glass work. Although we often remember his name when we see stained glass, many of today’s lamps and glass decorative pieces are by other artists. Whether an artist intends to imitate Tiffany or create his own piece of artwork, it hasn’t become easy to separate real lamps by Tiffany from other works of art.

Tiffany Mark

Like any other well-known artist, Tiffany made sure that his work bore his name and mark. A lamp made by Tiffany would usually carry its maker’s name at the base. As many of us would already know though, having Tiffany’s name on lamps will not ensure that they are authentic Tiffany lamps. The labels could have been carefully replicated by another artist. In some cases, authentic bases may be paired with non-authentic shades.

Lamp Traits

It has also been suggested that one can evaluate a lamp if it is authentic or not by looking at designs and patterns. Lampshades may come in globe, panel or cone. The designs on the shades also typically carry geometric shapes with figures of flowers and dragonflies. Obviously, these common patterns can easily be replicated by talented artists. Although close inspection may probably show differences from the master’s hand, a copyist’s work may easily pass off as an authentic Tiffany.

Lamp Price

A Tiffany piece is never cheap. Lamps are often thousands of dollars more than ordinary lamps. The most expensive ones have actually been sold for more than a million dollars each. The price can therefore be a clue to authenticity. Never settle for lamps that are suspiciously cheap. Then again, the more daring con artists can easily jack up their price for a fake replication.

If you really want to own an authentic Tiffany lamp, your best shot is to find reputable dealers. You can additionally ask old lamp experts to help you find the truth behind a piece you want to buy.

Shade Dimensions

It isn’t entirely advisable to come up with shade dimensions these days. With the variety of shade designs and modern improvements, who can tell which shade style or design is appropriate? Then again, if you are looking for a shade that you can effectively use on a working space or when reading, then there are certain ideal dimensions.

The bottom diameter of a shade should ideally be wider than the diameter of the base. The measurement of the shade bottom width is usually the same as the measurement from the base to the empty socket tip. Reading lamps usually have these dimensions because these ensure that you have sufficient light on your reading surface. Of course, the slant height of a traditional shade should cover not just the bulb but the switch as well and a little beyond that.

Shade and Bulb

The material of your lamp shade and the watts of the bulb you are using matter a lot. Since bulbs do emit heat, the shade eventually takes on gradual damage. To increase the lifespan of your shade, always make sure that the shade material is not too close to the bulb. The top opening should also be wide enough to allow heat to partially escape. You could also buy bulbs with lower wattage do as to protect the shade from getting worn out too quickly.

Style and Material

The look of your shade actually depends on what you like. Most lamps that are sold always come with matching shades. If you want to change your shade though, you should always consider your lamp base and body. Although the shade doesn’t have to be made of the same material as the rest of the lamp, it should at least match the lamp. A smooth metallic base and body appearance for example may be complemented with a square white glass shade with metallic trimming.

Cleaning

Even when a shade does get worn out, you can still maintain its appearance by having it periodically cleaned. From the very beginning, choose a shade than can easily be cleaned in whatever way is convenient for you. Depending on your shade type, you can have it washed, dry cleaned, vacuumed or brushed.

If you want perfect lamps, get your lamp shades perfect from the very beginning. Always look into crucial shade factors before buying a lamp.

Lamp Use

Lamps on tables are often used when you want to read while sitting or when you want to create a comfortable conversational ambience. You should always have your main function in mind when choosing a lamp for a table. The lamp shade brim should only reach your shoulder or ear tip so the bulb doesn’t glare irritatingly on the eyes. The brim should also be wide enough not to restrict sufficient light. The height of the lamp should be enough to shed light and not shadows on your reading or work surface.

Table Compatibility

Your choice of lamp should also depend on the height, dimensions and appearance of the table on which it will be placed. If your table is a little low for example, you would probably need a lamp that is around 3 feet or more. Remember though that you want a table lamp and not a floor lamp. Buy anymore higher than 5 feet and you might be looking at a ridiculous fixture on a platform.
The shade of a table lamp should also complement your table piece. Generally, it would be more tasteful if your lamp’s hood isn’t wider or bigger than the table surface. Do avoid though, placing small decorative lamps on wide tables.

Safety Features

One of the greatest considerations for lamp safety is the base. Lamps on tables should have reasonably wide and heavy bases. This is to avoid tipping or falling over especially when a table is bumped. On the other hand, standard heavy based lamps can cause injury if they still manage to get knocked down. It is therefore necessary to simply keep tables and lamps away from busy areas or active kids.

Style and Material

As with every other kind of lamp, there are various designs for those that you can put on your table. You can choose modern geometric designs, or traditional semi-domed or Aladdin shades. You can also choose from various prints, colors and designs. Materials vary too from wood, iron, brass and glass. Your choice of style largely depends on your tastes and how well a lamp matches your interior design.

Good table lamps are a great investment. You can enjoy the practical uses and aesthetic effects of a well chosen lamp for your table. Do not forget though to have these main considerations in mind when shopping for your ideal lamp.

Why You Need Them

Lamps that stand on your floor aren’t a new concept but not everyone is sold out to the idea. Some people are still quite attached to the older table lamp. If you are having second thoughts about buying lamps with stands, then you should take a look at some of these reasons for getting floor lighting lamps:

·    A floor lamp is the appropriate height for anything you want to do especially when sitting down. It isn’t too high or too low, simply because many floor lamp models can be adjusted up, down or sideways depending on what area you want to be lighted. A floor lamp unit can be quite flexible depending on the style and brand.

·    Unlike desk lamps, floor units can be placed in a variety of different positions. You can use them behind sofas, tables or seats when you want to read. You can also simply have them stand in corners to enhance the mood during night time conversations. One other use for floor lamp units is to accent a particular portion of your décor or house.

·    Floor units come in a variety of shapes and sizes. You can have the typical Aladdin lamp hood or you can choose other geometrical designs. Hoods can be printed or plain and they can be modern or vintage in appearance. The floor lamps in your home can complement your decoration theme.

Things to Consider

Of course, one of the major concerns of users would be lamp style, functionality and price. You should never forget though, that like everything else, your main concern should be the safety features of a lamp.

When you see a floor lamp unit that you like, immediately assess if it is safe to use. Naturally, new models of lamps have to pass currents standards of safety before they can be sold. Not everyone however prefers the recent models. Some may still consider buying old or antique lamps from online auctions or garage sales. This is when you have to look at safety carefully.

Your lamp should always have a reasonably wide base to avoid tipping. It should also have durable cords that do not fray easily or yield to pet gnawing.

A floor lamp can make a whole lot of difference to your home. The safety of a unit however should always be your top priority.