Antique Torchiere Lamps Bring Sophistication To A Room
Torchiere floor lamps have been around for many years and remain popular today, because they provide an easy and effective way to supply indirect room lighting that bounces off the ceiling and illuminated a space with soft, but bright, light. Floor torchiere lamps are a valuable addition to a room when the amount of overhead light is not sufficient, or when indirect light is preferred. They are also very popular because they eliminate the need for installation of overhead lights.
Torchiere lamps are a perfect choice for dorm rooms, offices, and rental apartments where one is not permitted to make large changes to the room. Some modern torchiere lamps can supply direct light with a swing arm down-light feature attached to the vertical pole. Some designers will coordinate matching table lamps or pendant lighting fixtures to an existing torchiere lamp to pull the look of a room together. A fine antique torchiere lamp can be matched to reproduction pieces to give an antique ambiance to a room.
An antique torchiere lamp will make a real impression in most any room and may be surprisingly affordable. Because these versatile lamps have been so popular for so long, it is fairly easy to find antique torchiere lamps in most any antique store, or even at yard or garage sales. Some lucky people might even have antique torchiere lamps in the home and not realize it.
The styles and types of torchiere lamps are practically endless. The only standard feature is that the lamp will be five to six feet tall, with an inverted reflector bowl at the top. These glass or metal reflector bowls are functional, in that they reflect the indirect lighting within the torchiere lamps' upper housing toward the ceiling. These bowls are also very often decorative, especially those seen in antique torchiere lamps. Bowls are most often made of glass or metal, but in some fancier styles of lamp, mica, stained glass, and other decorative materials are seen.
The poles can be decorative too. Again, most modern lamps are simply constructed with plain poles, but it would not be uncommon to see antique torchiere lamps with a copper or brass pole, or with a pole that is carved or otherwise adorned. Some of the most interesting antique torchiere lamps were made by the Stiffel Company (which has been in business since 1932) and are still available in antique shops today.
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