A brass table lamp is a table lamp made principally from brass, an alloy of copper and zinc valued for its warm golden colour, durability and ability to take fine cast, turned and engraved detail. Antique brass table lamps range from simple converted candlesticks and Corinthian column lamps to elaborate Victorian and Edwardian decorative pieces with cast bases, reeded columns and pierced galleries.
Many brass table lamps began life as oil lamps, which were made in great numbers in the second half of the nineteenth century, with heavy brass columns and bases supporting glass reservoirs and shades. With the arrival of electric light, makers produced purpose-built electric lamps in similar styles, and many oil lamps and candlesticks were converted to electricity. Arts and Crafts designers such as W. A. S. Benson created distinctive brass and copper lamps, while later Art Deco and mid-century designs introduced more streamlined forms. Collectors look for good weight, crisp casting, original finishes and well-proportioned forms, and for careful conversions that have not damaged the original piece. Antique lamps must be professionally rewired with modern flex and lamp holders before use, and with a well-chosen shade they provide warm, practical lighting in traditional and contemporary rooms.
