Converted lighting is the term for antique lamps, chandeliers, lanterns and wall lights originally made to burn candles, oil, paraffin or gas that have since been adapted for use with electricity. The conversion usually involves fitting lamp holders, threading new flex through existing arms or stems, and sometimes adding a discreet ceiling plate or switch so that the fitting can be used safely in a modern home.
Conversion began in earnest in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when country houses and town residences were wired for electric light and owners chose to keep their existing fittings rather than replace them. Many gasoliers, Argand lamps and candle chandeliers survive today only because they were adapted in this way. A well-executed conversion respects the original form, hides cabling where possible and avoids unnecessary drilling or alteration of the metalwork, glass or burners. Buyers should check that wiring is recent, properly earthed where needed and tested, and that original components such as candle nozzles, drip pans or burner galleries have been retained. Sympathetic conversions are widely accepted by collectors and allow period lighting to be used every day.
