antique lamps

The History of Antique Lamps

Lots of decorators will put lamps in the corners of the room to brighten them up, as well as the room. If this is something that you are thinking about, you will need to decide on the style as well as the type of the lamp that you need. This information about antique lamps, should help you do just that.

Lamps are an integral part of our homes today and through out the past. The word lamp is derived from the Greek word lampas which means torch. Why not take some time to explore the history of antique lamps?

The first lamp dates back to around 70,000 BC. That's a long time ago so you've probably already guessed that the antique lamp of that era looked nothing like the modern day lamp.

The early lamps were very utilitarian. They were made from a hollow rock or shell or other similar hollow items that could hold a fuel source.

The main source of fuel was moss that was soaked with animal fat which was then placed in the hollow bowl. It was then lit producing a candle type light. Occasionally other materials were used.

Over time the bases were replaced with pottery and later with alabaster. Then wicks were invented so that the burn could be controlled better.

The Greeks began making terra cotta lamps during the 7th century BC. These were designed to replace the hand held torches that had been used.

The central burner was invented in the 18th century which improved the functionality of the lamp a great deal. The fuel was no stored in a sealed metal container while a metal tube that was adjustable was used to control the intensity of the light which determined the amount of fuel burned.

Soon after glass chimneys were added to the lamps....

Page 2: The History of Antique Lamps

Related Articles

Discount Lamps - Where You Can Find Them

Here are some great start points. 1. eBay Just like the commercial says you can buy almost anything on eBay so be sure to check it out. Of course that said, it's very important to check the feedback of the seller and make sure the deal you are getting is really a deal. 2. Bizrate Is a...

Energy Saving Lamp - A Convenient Money Saver

If you are wondering what compact fluorescent lamps are, commonly called CFLs, they are a fluorescent with a screw in base designed for modern light fixtures. For years the only fluorescent lighting around was the long tubes but those days are gone. They work the same as the fluorescent tubes with...

---