A wall lantern is a lantern designed to be fixed to a wall, usually on a bracket, so that the light source is enclosed by glass panels and projected outward. Wall lanterns are used both outside, at doorways, gates, courtyards and stable yards, and inside, in halls, corridors and staircases.
Early wall lanterns held candles or oil lamps and were made in iron, brass, copper or tinned sheet metal, sometimes with horn panels before glass became affordable. The nineteenth century brought gas-lit versions, and many of the antique examples found today were made for gas or early electric light in the Victorian and Edwardian periods. Typical forms include square and hexagonal lanterns with hipped tops, coach-style lanterns with chimney vents, and ornate cast-brass or bronze examples in Georgian and Regency revival styles. Collectors and specifiers look for good proportions, original glass, sound hinges and doors, and quality of metalwork. Patina is often preferred to heavy polishing, especially on exterior lanterns. Antique wall lanterns used today are normally rewired and tested to current standards, and exterior fittings may need sealing to suit outdoor conditions, making them an attractive way to give period character to a house front.
