What are the major brands of antique lighting? Information and tips on major brands of antique lighting. "When it comes to companies that made antique lighting, Tiffany is the name that most people know,"...
"When it comes to companies that made antique lighting, Tiffany is the name that most people know," says Sharon Nunnally, who has been in the antique lighting business for 20 years and is the owner of Antique Lighting and Restoration in Denver. "It's popularity is because of the uniqueness of their stained glass lights and the great craftsmanship of the pieces. For the times that his company was in business, it was the gold standard of stained glass lighting and it always has been."
Louis Comfort Tiffany is noted for his lamps, which were mainly produced between 1899 and 1916. Most had heavy bronze bases stylized like parts of a tree or flower. The exquisitely hand designed leaded glass shades were works of art. Tiffany also created outstanding leaded glass windows and art glass pieces. Demand has always exceeded demand, so prices for his creations have always remained high. Condition, color, and rarity determine the worth.
When Tiffany lamps became so popular, rival companies sprang up. While some antiques experts feel no other lamps measured up to Tiffany, one of the best competitors was Handel & Co. Located in Meriden, Connecticut, the Handel Company opened in 1885 and closed in 1936. It was a glass and lamp shade decorating company from its beginning until the start of World War I in 1914. Following the end of that war in 1918, it began making decorative lamps and they are very collectible today.
Another leading competitor of Tiffany was Pairpont. Founded in 1880 in New Bedford, Massachusetts, as the Pairpont Manufacturing Company, it first manufactured silver and silver plated items. In 1894 it merged with nearby Mount Washington Glass Company. For forty years the new company was very successful with the production of lamps and other glass items. In 1939 a series of management and name changes began. Today, the company is known as Pairpont Crystal Glass Company.
The most popular and most easily identified all glass Pairpont shade is known as "puffy." That's because glass was blown into plump forms shaped like flower petals before they were painted inside. Pairpont lamp bases can be metal, wood, or glass.
"Baccarat is a crystal company that makes all sorts of glass," Nunnally continues. "They also make chandeliers."
During the 19th century Baccarat was a leading manufacturer of pressed glass. This French company also made a lot of tableware and lamps. Except for the mold lines which are essential in the production of pressed glass, their high quality work closely resembles blown cut glass. The company used paper labels up until 1900. If the name Baccarat is acid etched into the glass, that piece was made after the start of the 20th century.
"There were many, many companies that manufactured the bulk of antique lighting during 1910s, 1920s, and 1930s," Nunnally continues. "But the names of these companies don't mean anything to the lay person shopping for antique lighting. A lot of that lighting was still just everyday lighting in its time, and thousands of those pieces were made. If you're really interested in learning about the history of antique lighting, I would recommend reading a good general purpose book titled American Lighting 1840-1940. It's a good overview. You'll see some common lighting pieces in there that you recognize and some rare pieces that you'll never see."
