Vintage Drop Pendant Light Fixture Vintagelights.com

One particular design element which has somehow been accepted today as indispensable (albeit cost-effective) and which looks completely out of place in the restoration effort of a home over 70 years old is the ceiling can light, aka work lighting, task lighting etc, etc.  We refer to them here as “beer can lights”, as that’s what they look like to us.  Cut a round hole in the ceiling and shove a can up there.  As Jimmy Buffett said: “They looked a lot better as beer cans.” 

It seems every designer and remodeler today has accepted the can light as the only solution to illuminate those areas, typically in the kitchen, where adequate lighting is a must. How did we live through 50 years of electrical lighting without the can light and without straining our eyesight, or cutting off a digit?  Very well and elegantly. Lighting manufacturers back then did recognize the need for this type of illumination over working spaces and task areas.  In fact it was even more important 80 years age as ceilings were typically higher and the wattage of available light bulbs was lower.

Can, or work lighting, task lighting, etc, etc, is often highlighted in interior descriptions, as if it is the only solution.  What seems to be forgotten in these examples is the Inverse Square Law for Light Intensity, which states that the intensity of light is in an inverse proportion to the square of the distance from the source. Simply explained if a light bulb is twice (2x) as close to the work surface (3 feet away verses 6 feet away for example) it will provide 4 times the amount of luminosity at the work surface, 3 times closer (example: 3 feet vs. 9 feet away) it will provide 9x the amount of intrinsic luminosity, 4 times closer 16x etc etc.  This can be somewhat difficult to wrap your mind around (I should say this was difficult for me to grasp, not you). 

Basically what it means is, one of the best solution to provide adequate task lighting is to get the light source as close to the work surface as possible. Vintage lighting provided the solution back then and it can provide the authentic and an authentic looking solution today, as in the image above.

Lust for the little things.
We receive all kinds of requests and queries all the time but we recently received a couple which were strikingly similar: people trying to source old small parts for their vintage bathroom and kitchen  lighting fixtures to complete that “authentic vintage look” (we have received many such requests over the years).   These two inquiries were wondering where to source the pull and the pull chain socket for the old porcelain bath and kitchen wall sconces. You know, the sockets with those little teardrop shaped dangley things attached to a small chain coming out of the bottom or side of the wall sconce, referred to as the pull (see image), or in some cases a porcelain turn knob (image on far right).   These are the small details which give these vintage wall sconce light fixtues their authentic look, instead of a “vintage inspired look” (cute marketing term for something trying to be what it is not) so commonly seen in today’s old house magazines.

Unfortunately, we have not been able to find a replacement source for these antique sockets and vintage porcelain pulls. They just do not seem to be made any more. There are other sockets available which will retro fit these sconces, but none with the pull chain and porcelain finial, so they’re left looking a bit unfinished. The only way we have found to be able to refurbish these types of sockets is to buy 2 or 3 old sconces in hopes we can make one good one out of them. And this is no easy task. The steamy environment where they were typically installed has taken its toll; dust and grime settled in with the moisture. With 8 electrical contact points, every time the switch was activated by pulling on the pull switch, little arcs of electricity ate away at the copper contacts and sometimes the copper contacts are completely gone. For us to be able to insure the pull switch mechanism that we sell in these antique porcelain light fixtures will last for several more decades is to completely dis-assemble the switch (with about 20 parts), clean and smooth the rough edges, lubricate with special electrical lube and re-assemble.  Lucky we can make one good one out of 2 or 3 old ones! We will keep looking for an alternative for these sockets but until we do find one, we will keep refurbishing what we can so you can keep the authentic look alive.

antique outdoor porch light | vintagelights.com

Here is an outstanding pair of vintage porch lights with just the kind of style and uniqueness that you look for when searching for something special and outstanding for your home, especially that “candle in the window” welcome home glow that comes from a vintage colored porch light globe.  These organic looking antique porch light fixtures with the old cast iron base resembles a tree trunk and the glowing amber “Brain” globes sits on these vintage fixtures at just the right angle.  These antique lighting fixtures are not only unique, interesting, and stylish but they are made of heavy, almost indestructible cast iron.  This type of unique styling goes great with the decor of almost any older home, be it a Bungalow, Storybook, Tudor, Brick, or Craftsman home. You should find that true period antique globes adds to the overall attractiveness of almost any pair of outdoor porch lights.  The solid and heavy look and feel of these adds to that initial sense of security one notices when that first impression is made, solid looking front door flanked by solid looking vintage porch lighting.  Minor things which all add up to a comfortable and inviting gateway to your home. These vintage porch fixtures have stripped back to bare cast iron and a coat of rust preventive primer applied to insure many more decades of useful life.  Then they were refinished in an antiqued bronze color topped off by a layer of  extra hard wax.
Over all height: 11 inches
Maximum width: 6 inches
Total projection: 8 inches
Each vintage fixture is wired to safely handle up to a 100 watt bulb.

vintage outdoor porch light | antique lighting | vintagelights.com

Quezal art glass shades vintagelights.com

We have read in several places lately about the rise in popularity of vintage and antique art glass.  The term “Art Glass” usually refers to a piece of glassware, hand made by an artisan, where the decorative aspect of the glassware was more important than its utility.  For instance, an art glass plate was intended to be looked at instead of eaten off of. 
One exception to this generalization are the art glass shades made for antique and vintage lighting.  These also are rising in interest, popularity, and prices.  If you can find signed Tiffany, Quezal, or Stuben art glass shades for example, these tend to increase in value every year, with or without the underlining interest in art glass.
A few years ago I found a single signed Quezal art glass shade in the King Tut pattern at an antique show in Ohio (below).  I thought I did pretty good, doubling my money when I sold the antique shade for $320.  That was until last week, when I saw the same patterned single shade at an online retailer in New York who was offering it for $1,400.00!  (What recession?????)

Here is another tidbit of what some are seeing as current design trends.  There seems to be a theme among those deep in the antique & design industry.  Bill from VandM notices, “While fifties modern and Hollywood glamour seem to have finally petered out, a new transition is happening leaning toward the conservative and traditional. In general what you should be looking to find is UNIQUE, interesting, and one-of-a-kind items.”

In the case of antique and vintage lighting, it is difficult to find one-of-a-kind items which are affordable.   Most original vintage and antique lighting is rare enough to insure you won’t see another one any time soon.  Case in point is the vintage Art Deco slip shade antique lighting fixture in the above image.  In 15 years this is only the second time we at VintageLights.com  have had this incredible fixture to offer.  It is huge, over 31 inches long as shown.

Linda and I were visiting one of our favorite antique malls last week, Wertz Brothers Antique Mall in Santa Monica, CA, (also a haunt Martha Stewart shops at)  and we both noticed a distinct difference in the “feel” of the mall from the last few time we were there, the last time we were there was about a year ago.  First off we noticed it was PACKED with new merchandise!  Recession aggression have these dealers moving!  
We asked the manager, Robin, about this and she told us there was indeed a shift in what designers today were after and as a result what dealers are putting out for sale in the mall.  (Robin is always a pleasure to chat with, an ever present genuine smile and a thoughtful insight into the world of antiques).
The biggest shift she has witnessed is interior designers moving more towards items which are exciting to look at, items which capture your imagination, items with more design, more panache, and away from collectibles just for the sake of collecting.  Items such as taxidermic animal heads or some smartly designed antique lighting were getting the designers attention.
We also asked her if her customers were embracing the new trend and her widened smile answered us before her words acknowledged that sales were good.
In an ebay world it is great to see a quality antique mall doing so well.  Thanks Robin!  Keep up the good work in the new year.

Vintage Slip Shade Ceiling Light FIxture

I was recently reading about the dilemma a couple of antiquers found themselves in, and there were certain similarities which relate directly to having an excellent online buying experience as opposed to having a minor disaster.
They were looking through the window of a closed antique store and spotted a large antique sign, just what they were looking for as an accent for their office.  Back home they contacted the seller, agreed on a cash price, and made arrangements to pick up and pay for the sign in a few days.   When they returned to the antique store, money in pocket, what they found was something they had not noticed from the window: the sign was in two pieces, roughly cut in half.  And I mean roughly, with small jagged edges up and down the cut.  This sign now had no value to them, with the rough cut,  so they apologized and left without their anticipated treasure.   They were experienced enough to know to preface the sale with an “upon inspection” clause, but in their excitement they forgot. 
It is not too much different when looking at an item for sale online: you see it only in 2 dimensions.  Here are a few things to look for so you won’t find yourself in the same dilemma as the antiquers.
First, ask questions!  Be sure there is an easy way to ask questions on the website, and, the quickness of the website’s response is another indicator of a quality site.
Second, look for the site’s return policy.  Any quality site will offer a written 100% guarantee return policy, with no re-stocking fee (with the possible exception of custom work).  
These two simple things will prevent the kind of disappointment suffered by our two antiquers, and will give you a pleasant online buying experience when shopping for antiqque lighting fixtures.

Revival style antique porch light fixture

Antique porch light fixture with body made of cast iron and the back plate of solid copper. Beautiful design of ivy and vines repeats 4 times around the main body. This vintage lighting fixture was designed to be shown without a shade so the pattern will cast intricate shadow patterns on the porch and wall. Refinished in an antique bronze look. Another one of those antique lighting fixtures which cross over many design styles. Arts & Crafts, Revival Style, Tudor, Storybook, and Craftsman styles are just a few of the design styles this will be happily married to.  A storybook ending indeed.
Height: 13 Inches
Width: 5 inches