The Market For Antique Porcelain Lamps Remains Strong
Of all of the many antique lamps that are available to collectors today, none is more prized for its beauty and versatility than the various types of antique porcelain lamp that can be found. These lamps were popular for many decades, and a vast array of beautiful examples are still around today.
One of the most popular collectible antique porcelain lamp varieties are those that were made by the Leviton Company. Leviton is the largest privately held manufacturer of wiring devices in North America. The company was founded in 1906 by a father and son team. Leviton was one of the first United States lighting manufacturers to move away from gas lamp technology to the modern electric lamp of the early twentieth century.
Many of these Leviton fine antique porcelain lamp samples have white porcelain urns with cameo or other types of decorative painting (typically done with a lot of green, blue and pink hues), usually surrounded by gold trim. A typical antique porcelain lamp (table lamp variety) would usually sell for around fifty to one hundred dollars in the United Stated antique market.
Another popular maker of antique porcelain lamps was the Handel Company, which was formed in Meriden, Connecticut in 1876. At that time, the company made very high-quality reverse painted lamp shades that were offered as a cheaper alternative to the Tiffany lamp. Some of the most popular lamps of the period were made by Tiffany and Handel.
Some of the medium and larger Handel lamps were wired with more than one socket. These were operated with pull chains which had small, shaped pull balls on the chains. In the antique porcelain lamp market, a small, simply built Handel desk or piano lamp recently sold for around five hundred dollars! Typically, fancier and larger Handel lamps sell for over two thousand dollars, though some very rare ones that have sold for more than eighty thousand dollars.
The market in the antique porcelain lamp market continues to be strong. There is a brisk business among antique dealers for antique porcelain lamps, partly because they tend to be very well preserved and have retained their beauty and functionality through the years.
Many American homes have antique porcelain lamps that have been handed down over a couple of generations. Most of those are still functional, working pieces. Those who are interested in antique porcelain lamps are now starting to pay some attention to the lava lamps of the 1960's (thought at the time to be basically a kids toy), as well as the beaded lampshades and sconce lights of the 1940's. It seems that the marker for antique lamps of all kinds will prosper for years to come.
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