A reading lamp is a lamp designed to cast a concentrated pool of light for reading or close work, typically with an adjustable arm or shade that directs illumination onto a page. Reading lamps take many forms, including table lamps, desk lamps, standard lamps and wall-mounted brackets.
Before electric light, reading was helped by candle stands with adjustable arms, reading candlesticks with shades and, from the late eighteenth century, oil lamps using the Argand burner, which gave a brighter, steadier flame. The Victorian student lamp, with its oil reservoir on an adjustable stem and a green or white shade, was used widely in libraries and studies. With the arrival of electricity, manufacturers produced telescopic standard lamps, banker's lamps with green glass shades and, in the twentieth century, articulated designs such as the Anglepoise. Collectors look for good quality brass or bronze construction, smooth adjustment, original shades and any maker's marks. As with all antique lighting, rewiring and safety testing by a qualified electrician are essential. Antique reading lamps remain practical, attractive pieces for libraries, studies and beside armchairs, combining period character with everyday usefulness.
