When Thomas Edison first lit up parts of Manhattan in the 1880s, he created a new demand for indoor electric lighting. As with most new technology, competitors battled for marketplace control through their individual, innovative efforts. As with recording sound, recording video, and even the making of automobiles, in the beginning, there wasn’t much standardization. The earliest pieces I see are all unique in some way and were originally designed to fit together in some very creative ways, requiring parts that aren’t readily available today.

 As such, restoration of antique floor lamps from this time period are unique puzzles to solve. The results are unique and distinctive functional art.

 The vast majority of the lamps and lamp pieces I work on are pre-1929, primarily Victorian, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco design periods, when most things created, not just lamps, were fine examples of art. I don’t go much past 1929 if I can help it because almost all industries were negatively affected when the market crashed, lamp manufacturing included. While I can applaud manufacturers cutting a few corners to keep their workers employed and their families fed, many of the pieces from that time period did not age well.

 As most of the pieces of antique floor lamps I work on are in very bad condition when I get them and they rarely fit together with other rescued pieces from other manufacturers with ease. I have to come up with creative solutions to various problems, as they arise.

 At over one hundred years old, these pieces are the most susceptible to being lost forever to the ravages of time, ultimately ending up in landfills. The uniqueness, designs, craftsmanship, and attention to detail of yesteryear should not be forgotten or lost.

 I salvage, restore, refurbish each individual lamp piece I find until I have enough pieces to make an antique floor lamp worthy of being a heritage piece for future generations.

 I hope you enjoy my lamps as much as I do.