Antique Lamps

Today, the most collectible lamps are vintage oil and kerosene antique lamps. These antique lamps still look beautiful and are oddly enough still stylish in today's modern décor. Oil and kerosene lamps are were first manufactured a 100 years ago. These antique lamps when lit offer a romantic glow which can enhance the feeling of any room. Antique lamps can be fairly delicate and should be handled with care. Most have glass chimneys which can be easy broken and chipped. Vintage lamps usually come with glass shades which are equally as delicate.

If you looking to purchase a collectible lamp make sure you inspect it very carefully. Lamp shades will often have slight burn marks on them. These burn marks are normal and should be expected with antique lamps. Therefore, if you are inspect a supposed antique lamp and it has no signs of use, be weary. It could be someone trying to pass off a newer lamp as an antique.

There are a number of reproductions on the market and an uneducated consumer can easily be fooled by a charming con man. When a particular type of collectible becomes popular it is only a matter of time before the marketplace is flooded with reproductions. Make sure you run your fingers along the rim of the shade very slowly.  Touching the shade will let you find any hairline cracks which may be present that you can not see with your eyes.

Reproductions antique lamps are a great way to have something that looks old but with a new (and cheaper) price. Damaged antique lamps can easily be restored. Lamp shades and chimney can be purchased new or vintage. It is all right to replace damage lamp shade with a reproduction piece as long as you are not planning on selling it to anyone. If you do sell your antique lamps be sure to make the buyer aware that the lamp has a reproduction part.

One problem with collectibles is that often reproduction antique lamps are passed on as originals by unsuspecting selling or less then upstanding dealers. Make sure you check the antique lamps the way you would any other type of antique. Again, look for wear and tear on the shade. Examine the brass fittings and make sure they show signs of use. The base should always have wear marks where the lamp was handled on a regularly basis. Collecting antique lamps can fun and exiting but only if you are an educated collector.