Loading Spinner

American Lamps & Lights

Until the 1800s, most Americans were lighting their homes with candles, an expensive and unreliable light source. Candles were often placed in metal holders so they could be carried from room to room without dripping wax. Elaborate hanging candelabras, which used cut glass to enhance the candlelight, were often found high above dining tables and ballrooms in larger homes.

Oil and gas lamps became commonplace as technology advanced. They sat on furniture and utilized ornate glass chimneys and receptacles to hold the fuel needed for the flame and feed the wick with oxygen so it would continue to burn. When gas lamps first appeared, wall sconces became the de rigueur. They were mounted on the walls of more stately homes to accommodate the gas lines that fed lamps with fuel.

It was not until the invention of the electric light bulb by Thomas Edison around 1878 that American lamps experienced their first real renaissance. At that time, several styles emerged that were meant to diffuse the harsh electric light in the home. Stained glass and patterned shades were two fashionable solutions to this problem.


Quick Facts

  • As new natural resources were discovered throughout America in the 1800s, in-home kerosene and oil lighting became much more accessible
  • Etched glass, while also aesthetically pleasing, served an important purpose in lighthouses by refracting and focusing the light
  • An original Pink Lotus Tiffany lamp fetched $2.8 million at Christie’s in New York in 1997, making it the most expensive American lamp ever sold

Recommended Items at Auction

See all items

Vintage Hollywood Regency Style Glass/brass Lotus Lamp
Jul 19, 10:00 AM MST
Vintage Hollywood Regency Style Glass/brass Lotus Lamp
by EJ'S Auction & Appraisal
Est: $0- $0
$50015 Bids
Hollywood Regency Style Glass & Brass Lotus Lamp
Jul 19, 10:00 AM MST
Hollywood Regency Style Glass & Brass Lotus Lamp
by EJ'S Auction & Appraisal
Est: $0- $0
$90015 Bids
bp parity badge
American Safety Lamp & Mine Supply
Jul 30, 10:00 AM EDT
American Safety Lamp & Mine Supply
by Hassinger & Courtney Auctioneering
Est: $0- $0
$807 Bids
Hollywood Regency Style Prism Gilt Table Lamp
Jul 19, 10:00 AM MST
Hollywood Regency Style Prism Gilt Table Lamp
by EJ'S Auction & Appraisal
Est: $0- $0
$456 Bids
bp parity badge
Fenton "Daisy & Fern" Cranberry Opalescent Lamp with Shade, 20 in. (50.8 cm.)
Jul 27, 4:00 PM CDT
Fenton "Daisy & Fern" Cranberry Opalescent Lamp with Shade, 20 in. (50.8 cm.)
by Asselmeier May Auctions
Est: $200- $300
$905 Bids
bp parity badge
Treathaway Bros. Miners Oilwick Lamp, Parsons, PA
Jul 30, 10:00 AM EDT
Treathaway Bros. Miners Oilwick Lamp, Parsons, PA
by Hassinger & Courtney Auctioneering
Est: $0- $0
$604 Bids
Pair Hollywood Regency Style Prism Table Lamps
Jul 19, 10:00 AM MST
Pair Hollywood Regency Style Prism Table Lamps
by EJ'S Auction & Appraisal
Est: $0- $0
$203 Bids
bp parity badge
Koehler Miner's Lamp
Jul 30, 10:00 AM EDT
Koehler Miner's Lamp
by Hassinger & Courtney Auctioneering
Est: $0- $0
$51 Bid
OSCAR BACH (GERMAN-AMERICAN, 1884-1957) FLOOR LAMP
Jul 25, 10:00 AM CDT
OSCAR BACH (GERMAN-AMERICAN, 1884-1957) FLOOR LAMP
by Selkirk Auctioneers & Appraisers
Est: $400- $800
$2001 Bid
Mid Century Essanay Copper Fire Extinguisher Lamp
Jul 23, 10:00 AM EDT
Mid Century Essanay Copper Fire Extinguisher Lamp
by The Benefit Shop Foundation Inc.
Est: $50- $100
$101 Bid
2 Christopher Spitzmiller Coy Lamps, Linen Shades
Jul 26, 11:00 AM EDT
2 Christopher Spitzmiller Coy Lamps, Linen Shades
by Joshua Kodner
Est: $100- $200
$501 Bid
Sarsaparilla NY Art Deco Airplane Lamp
Jul 26, 11:00 AM EDT
Sarsaparilla NY Art Deco Airplane Lamp
by Kavanagh Auctions
Est: $50- $50,000
$501 Bid
JOHN MORGAN & SONS LEADED GLASS LAMP
Jul 27, 10:00 AM EDT
JOHN MORGAN & SONS LEADED GLASS LAMP
by Butterscotch Auction Gallery LLC
Est: $500- $700
$2501 Bid
NYCS Red Globe Lantern
Aug 04, 6:00 PM EDT
NYCS Red Globe Lantern
by Atlee Raber Auctioneer
Est: $0- $0
$51 Bid
American Green LED Grow Light Boxes
Jul 19, 10:00 AM MST
American Green LED Grow Light Boxes
by EJ'S Auction & Appraisal
Est: $0- $0
$101 Bid
Pair of Stiffel (American) Polished Brass Floor Lamps, H 53" Dia. 10.75"
Jul 18, 11:00 AM EDT
Pair of Stiffel (American) Polished Brass Floor Lamps, H 53" Dia. 10.75"
by DuMouchelles
Est: $200- $400
$1001 Bid
THREE DAVID SMITH TURTLE CREEK POTTERS (MORROW, OHIO) GLAZED REDWARE LAMPS AND A CHARGER.
Jul 25, 10:00 AM EDT
THREE DAVID SMITH TURTLE CREEK POTTERS (MORROW, OHIO) GLAZED REDWARE LAMPS AND A CHARGER.
by Amelia Jeffers
Est: $250- $500
$1251 Bid
bp parity badge
Handlan, St. Louis Lantern with Red Globe, 10 in. (25.4 cm.)
Jul 27, 4:00 PM CDT
Handlan, St. Louis Lantern with Red Globe, 10 in. (25.4 cm.)
by Asselmeier May Auctions
Est: $50- $80
$201 Bid
American Green LED Grow Light Boxes
Jul 19, 10:00 AM MST
American Green LED Grow Light Boxes
by EJ'S Auction & Appraisal
Est: $0- $0
$101 Bid
Federal Eagle hand carved table top library electric lamp
Jul 21, 6:00 PM EDT
Federal Eagle hand carved table top library electric lamp
by Atlee Raber Auctioneer
Est: $0- $0
$50 Bids
PAIR HERBERT PERRY CHROMED DESK LAMPS
Jul 27, 10:00 AM EDT
PAIR HERBERT PERRY CHROMED DESK LAMPS
by Butterscotch Auction Gallery LLC
Est: $500- $1,000
$3000 Bids
A Pair of Maitland Smith Table Lamps
Jul 18, 10:00 AM EDT
A Pair of Maitland Smith Table Lamps
by Alex Cooper
Est: $300- $400
$1500 Bids
bp parity badge
Tombstone, A.T. Buffalo Dental MFG Co Alcohol Lamp
Jul 26, 9:00 AM MDT
Tombstone, A.T. Buffalo Dental MFG Co Alcohol Lamp
by North American Auction Company
Est: $350- $700
$1000 Bids

Sellers Who Sell American Lamps & Lights


Amelia Jeffers

Amelia Jeffers

EJ'S Auction & Appraisal

EJ'S Auction & Appraisal

Auctions at Showplace

Auctions at Showplace