In the ongoing search for high quality desks, chairs, and other furnishings that fill the typical home, lighting is not normally among the higher priority choices.
However, for the collector of antique, small accent lamps, there are four well-known makers and designers of antique models. These are Tiffany Glass or Tiffany Studios, Murano Glass, Waterford Crystal and Capo di Monte porcelain.
While there are plenty of other well-known lamp manufacturers, these brands and styles hold their value and are some of the better-known names. To learn more about each one, keep reading.
Tiffany Accent Lamps
The first Tiffany lamp sold by Tiffany Studios was in 1899. It was designed by the firm’s founder, Louis Comfort Tiffany. And though Tiffany Studios only remained in business and producing lamps until 1938, their original lamps will sometimes sell for a small fortune. For example, an early Tiffany lamp built by Tiffany himself recently auctioned for just over $8 million. Today, the lamps are copied en masse.
There are several categories of Tiffany lamps, each defined by their glass style and pattern. They are Favrile, Geometric, Transition to Flowers, Irregular Upper and Lower Border. Meanwhile, popular patterns include the Wisteria pattern and the Pond Lily pattern.
Murano Accent Lamps
The island Murano, just off the coast of Venice, has been home to highly skilled glass makers and craftsmen for centuries. The isle is known all over the world for its beautiful glass pieces, decorative jewelry, glass art, unique style and impeccable designs. Murano glass has also been used to make some of the world’s most beautiful lamps.
Pricing for accent lamps made from Murano glass can have a huge range with much of it depending on who was the final producer of the lamp, where it was put together, the grade of glass and whether it can be verified that it was made in Murano. That said, an authentic Murano table lamp that was fully manufactured in Murano can go for higher than $9500 for a pair.
Capo di Monte Accent Lamps
Capo di Monte was a porcelain factory that operated in Naples, Italy from 1743 until 1759. The factory then closed down for 12 years, after which it reopened near Madrid Spain and ran until 1834. Since then, the brand, porcelain molds and trademark are owned and used by the Doccia factory.
Though the Capo di Monte factory developed mostly kitchenware and pottery, the company also sold a number of decorative, small accent lamps. To buy an original Capo di Monte lamp will cost you between one hundred and one thousand dollars, though the price can vary wildly depending on the condition of the lamp and how easily its authenticity can be verified.
Waterford Crystal Lamps
Waterford Crystal small accent lamps are still made today and typically retail between $200 and $600 for a newly manufactured lamp. However, antique or collectible models can auction for hundreds of thousands.