Lamps & Lighting

Frequently Asked Lamps & Lighting Questions

The dominant materials are brass, teak, ceramic, enameled steel, and early plastics like Bakelite and fiberglass on shades. Higher-end table lamps often feature hand-thrown ceramic bodies by American studios, while Italian floor lamps frequently use polished chrome and colored glass. Shades were typically burlap, linen, or paper over a wire frame, and many original shades survive if they have been kept out of direct sunlight.