A table lamp is a portable light designed to stand on a table, desk, sideboard or other piece of furniture, providing focused or ambient light within a room. Before electricity, table lamps burned oil, paraffin or candles; from the late nineteenth century, electric table lamps became increasingly common, and many earlier oil lamps and candlesticks were converted for electric use.
Antique and vintage table lamps are made in a wide range of materials, including brass, bronze, silver plate, ceramics, glass, marble, spelter and carved wood. Styles range from Neoclassical column lamps and Victorian oil lamps to Arts and Crafts copper designs, Art Nouveau glass and elegant Art Deco forms. When buying an antique table lamp, the quality of the base, the originality of fittings and the safety of the wiring are important considerations. Professionally restored and rewired examples combine period character with reliable modern use, and the right shade can transform the look of a lamp.
