Victorian lighting covers the lamps, chandeliers, lanterns and wall lights made during the reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1901, a period that saw dramatic changes in how homes were lit. At the start of the era most interiors relied on candles and colza or whale-oil lamps; by its end many houses had gas lighting and some had electric light.
The introduction of paraffin in the 1860s made bright, affordable oil lamps widely available, with duplex burners, decorative glass reservoirs and etched or coloured shades. Gas lighting brought gasoliers, gas brackets and hall lanterns, often in elaborate brass with cut or etched glass, while the arrival of electricity in the 1880s prompted new designs and many conversions of earlier fittings. Victorian lighting reflects the full range of revival styles, from Gothic and Rococo to Aesthetic and Arts and Crafts. Today these fittings are prized for their craftsmanship and character, and professionally restored and rewired examples bring warmth and authenticity to period and contemporary interiors alike.
