Vintage 8" Milk Glass White Torchiere Table Lamp Shade Globe 2 1/2" Fitter (2024)

FAQs

How can you tell if a lamp shade is vintage? ›

Check For Makers' Marks

As with many types of antiques, vintage lamps are likely to have a date stamp or maker's mark somewhere. Typically, these marks are on the base of the lamp, but sometimes there are also stickers on the light fixing itself that will include a name or date or manufacturer.

The taller the lamp is, the larger the shade size should be in order to give it the right proportion. Always make sure that you have a minimum of two to three inches between the bulb and the shade. For table lamps, the ideal shade size should have a bottom diameter of around 16 inches or less.

Glass shades were very popular when kerosene or gas lights were being used from the late 18th through the early 20th century.

Antiques are items which must be at least 100 years old. That means, as of the date of this posting, an antique item was made on or before April of 1918. Items over 300 years of age generally fall into one of two categories depending upon whether they are manmade creations or natural finds.

The spider is a metal construction within the shade, located at the very top. It comes in a couple of different varieties, with either three or four metal prongs that meet in the middle. Spider fittings connect to the harp, which then connects to the base of the lamp.

Three things to remember... The width of the lampshade (diameter at the bottom) should be roughly equal to the height of the lamp base. The height of the lampshade should be about two thirds the height of the lamp base. The lampshade should be the wider than the widest part of the lamp base.

A fitter refers to the metal structure that connects the lampshade to the lamp base and is a key component of a light fixture. There are four commonly used lampshade fitters—a spider, an uno, a Euro, and a clip-on.

The fitter is the outer diameter of the lip which is inserted into the fixture's shade holder. This will measure a little less than the fitter size so it can fit into the shade holder of the same measurement.

Glass installer

A glazier is responsible for measuring, installing and repairing glass in houses, hotels, shops and offices. As a glazier, you'd need to choose appropriate glass for the job in hand, remove old and broken panes, and ensure glass is sealed to be watertight.

Once you've picked the appropriate size of your lamp shade, you need to consider how it will attach to the base. The three most common types of lamp shade assemblies are: spider, uno and clip on.

What is considered a vintage lamp? ›

Unlike antique lamps that are at least a century old, a lamp is considered vintage if it's at least 20 but not more than 100 years old. Antique lamps are incredibly rare because most were invented between the 17th and 20th centuries and their production stopped right after.

Look for heavy glass, or painted glass (Tiffany shades have unique identifiable patterns), and solid metal (like brass or bronze) or wood for the base. These are all usually good indicators of an old lamp.

Flowerpot lights, famous for their two hemispheres casting a downward, ambient glow, give that classic '70s look to any room.

Stamps: The base of Tiffany lamps almost always carried a Tiffany Studios stamp with a number. Many of the glass shades were also stamped. It's also important to remember that an item stamped Tiffany & Co., the high-end jewelry and fine goods shop, is not the same.

Know The Look

Like midcentury architecture, furniture and textiles, the lamps from this period have geometric shapes, simple lines and a space-age feel. Look for shapes such as globes, hourglasses and rings to kickstart your search.

Tracing its modern roots to the 17th Century, lampshades began as pragmatic coverings often made simple materials such as parchment, glass, or metal, used for the diffusion of flickering candle or oil lamp light.