Floor Lamp

At a glance

• Family: Lamps & Shades
• Periods most often found: Bridge lamps and torchières date from 1920 to 1940; French reading lamps from 1930 to 1960; mid-century designs from 1950 to 1975.
• Typical price: about $600; range $150 to $4,000 and more for exceptional pieces
• What drives value: Maker, original shade, material

What it is

Vintage floor lamps include American bridge lamps of the 1920s with an offset arm, torchières that throw light at the ceiling, French wrought-iron and brass reading lamps, and mid-century arc and tripod lamps in brass and teak.

How to identify and date it

Cast-iron or bronze bases and original finials mark 1920s bridge lamps; mid-century lamps often carry maker labels (Stilnovo, Arteluce, Lunel). Check that the column is straight, that adjustable joints hold their position, and that the lamp is stable.

Periods and styles

Bridge lamps and torchières date from 1920 to 1940; French reading lamps from 1930 to 1960; mid-century designs from 1950 to 1975.

How much is it worth?

On the US retail market, most floor lamp examples ask around $600. Simple or worn pieces start near $150, while documented, signed or exceptional examples can pass $4,000. The main value drivers are: maker, original shade, material. These are indicative ranges, not an appraisal; see our price guide for French antiques for the method.

Questions buyers ask: antique brass floor lamps value; vintage stiffel floor lamps price guide; antique floor lamps worth money. The answer depends on the points below, which are worth checking before you compare prices.

Before you buy

• Test stability and joints
• Check wiring
• Look for labels
• Measure height

Living with it

A floor lamp beside an armchair or a reading bench creates a corner to linger in.