French Country · Encyclopedia · Lighting and Mirrors
Oil Lamp
Kerosene and oil lamps, from glass Aladdin lamps to hurricane and banquet lamps.
Lamps & Shades · Indicative US retail $50–$1,500
At a glance
- Family: Lamps & Shades
- Periods most often found: Most kerosene lamps date from 1860 to 1930; Gone-with-the-Wind lamps from 1880 to 1910; French moderator lamps from 1840 to 1880.
- Typical price: about $200; range $50 to $1,500 and more for exceptional pieces
- What drives value: Shade, painted decoration, burner
What it is
Oil lamps lit homes before electricity: kerosene table lamps in glass and brass, Aladdin mantle lamps, Victorian banquet lamps on tall columns, hurricane lamps with globe shades ("Gone with the Wind" lamps) and French Carcel and moderator lamps with clockwork mechanisms.
How to identify and date it
The burner reveals the maker: Plume & Atwood, Bradley & Hubbard, Aladdin or the German Kosmos stamp their names on the wick knob or collar. Hand-painted glass shades and matching chimneys add value; reproductions often have printed decoration and modern burners. Many have been electrified; an untouched burner is better for collectors.
Periods and styles
Most kerosene lamps date from 1860 to 1930; Gone-with-the-Wind lamps from 1880 to 1910; French moderator lamps from 1840 to 1880.
How much is it worth?
On the US retail market, most oil lamp examples ask around $200. Simple or worn pieces start near $50, while documented, signed or exceptional examples can pass $1,500. The main value drivers are: shade, painted decoration, burner. These are indicative ranges, not an appraisal; see our price guide for French antiques for the method.
Questions buyers ask: antique hurricane lamps worth money; antique oil lamps value; valuable oil lamps; how much are oil lamps worth. The answer depends on the points below, which are worth checking before you compare prices.
Before you buy
- Check the burner
- Inspect glass for cracks
- Confirm the chimney
- Ask whether it was electrified
Living with it
A painted oil lamp on a sideboard evokes the 19th-century evening; it can still be used with lamp oil.
How we write these guides: identification notes are general guidance written by French Country; a style name, a region or a resemblance does not by itself date or attribute a piece. Price ranges are indicative US retail asking prices for antique and vintage examples in sound condition (dealers, specialist marketplaces and auctions), estimated and rounded as of November 2026; check recent sold results before relying on a figure. They are not appraisals or offers to buy or sell: condition, provenance and documentation can move a value far outside the range. For insurance, estates or sales, ask an independent, qualified appraiser for a written valuation.