Railroad Lantern
Early 20th Century American Table Lamps
Enamel, Iron
Antique 1880s American American Empire Lanterns
Steel
Antique 1890s American American Empire Lanterns
Steel
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lanterns
Metal
Mid-20th Century English Lanterns
Metal
Early 20th Century Candle Lamps
Copper
Recent Sales
21st Century and Contemporary Lanterns
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Wall Lights and Sconces
Metal
20th Century English Lanterns
Metal
Antique 19th Century American Lanterns
Metal
Antique Mid-19th Century French Lanterns
Brass, Copper, Steel
Antique Mid-19th Century American Industrial Lanterns
Brass, Copper, Steel
Antique Late 19th Century French Lanterns
Copper
Antique 19th Century French Lanterns
Copper, Iron, Brass
Antique 19th Century French Decorative Objects
Steel, Copper
Antique Early 1900s French Lanterns
Brass, Iron
Vintage 1910s French Lanterns
Brass, Copper, Iron
Early 20th Century Lanterns
Brass, Copper, Iron
Early 20th Century American Lanterns
Glass
Early 20th Century American Candle Lamps
Metal
Early 20th Century French Lanterns
Brass, Copper
Early 20th Century French Lanterns
Brass, Copper
Early 20th Century American Lanterns
Metal
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Lanterns
Aluminum
Antique 19th Century French Decorative Objects
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Lanterns
Iron, Tôle
Early 20th Century American Industrial Lanterns
Metal
Mid-20th Century Canadian Industrial Lanterns
Steel
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass
Early 20th Century Canadian Art Deco Lanterns
Metal
20th Century Chinese Sculptures and Carvings
Iron
Antique Late 19th Century American Industrial Table Lamps
Steel
Early 20th Century American Lanterns
Metal
20th Century American Lanterns
Steel
20th Century American More Lighting
Iron
Early 20th Century French Lanterns
Early 20th Century French Lanterns
Metal
Vintage 1960s American Table Lamps
Vintage 1940s English Lanterns
Metal
Early 20th Century French Lanterns
Iron
20th Century Lanterns
Brass
Vintage 1940s American Lanterns
Copper, Iron
Antique 19th Century American Table Lamps
Vintage 1930s American Wall-mounted Sculptures
Bronze
Early 20th Century Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal, Brass
Railroad Lantern For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Railroad Lantern?
Finding the Right Lighting for You
The right table lamp, outwardly sculptural chandelier or understated wall pendant can work wonders for your home. While we’re indebted to thinkers like Thomas Edison for critically important advancements in lighting and electricity, we’re still finding new ways to customize illumination to fit our personal spaces all these years later. A wide range of antique and vintage lighting can be found on 1stDibs.
Today, lighting designers like the self-taught Bec Brittain have used the flexible structure of LEDs to craft glamorous solutions by working with what is typically considered a harsh lighting source. By integrating glass and mirrors, reflection can be used to soften the glow from LEDs and warmly welcome light into any space.
Although contemporary innovators continue to impress, some of the classics can’t be beat.
Just as gazing at the stars allows you to glimpse the universe’s past, vintage chandeliers like those designed by Gino Sarfatti and J. & L. Lobmeyr, for example, put on a similarly stunning show, each with a rich story to tell.
As dazzling as it is, the Arco lamp, on the other hand, prioritizes functionality — it’s wholly mobile, no drilling required. Designed in 1962 by architect-product designers Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, the piece takes the traditional form of a streetlamp and creates an elegant, arching floor fixture for at-home use.
There is no shortage of modernist lighting similarly prized by collectors and casual enthusiasts alike — there are Art Deco table lamps created in a universally appreciated style, the Tripod floor lamp by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Greta Magnusson Grossman's sleek and minimalist Grasshopper lamps and, of course, the wealth of mid-century experimental lighting that emerged from Italian artisans at Arredoluce, FLOS and many more are hallmarks in illumination innovation.
With decades of design evolution behind it, home lighting is no longer just practical. Crystalline shaping by designers like Gabriel Scott turns every lighting apparatus into a luxury accessory. A new installation doesn’t merely showcase a space; carefully chosen ceiling lights, table lamps and floor lamps can create a mood, spotlight a favorite piece or highlight your unique personality.
The sparkle that your space has been missing is waiting for you amid the growing collection of antique, vintage and contemporary lighting for sale on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 26, 2024To identify antique railroad lanterns, first see if you can locate a maker's mark on the bottom. Using trusted online resources, you can determine who produced your lantern based on these markings, and then you can research the company to find out when it was in business and making lanterns similar to yours. To be considered an antique, a railroad lantern must be at least 100 years old. If you can't find a maker's marking, it's generally necessary to use the characteristics of a lantern to date it. Because this can be difficult without experience and training, you may wish to seek the opinion of a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer when identifying unmarked railroad lanterns. Explore a selection of lanterns on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 7, 2024The difference between a railroad lamp and a lantern comes down to design and function. Railroad lamps are stationary lighting fixtures that were used to illuminate railroad tracks and platforms. They usually feature a heavy sheet or cast metal body and have lenses that make their lighting more intense. Intended to be portable, lanterns are generally smaller and usually feature a metal frame, a glass shade and no lenses. On 1stDibs, explore a selection of railroad lamps and lanterns.
Read More
This Paavo Tynell Chandelier Is a Radiant Bouquet
The alluring pendant light exemplifies the designer’s winsome mid-career work.
Ettore Sottsass Captures a Shooting Star in This Rare 1970s Floor Lamp
Before founding the Memphis Group, Sottsass bent the rules of lighting design with the wonderfully wavy Cometa.
You Don’t Need a Fictional Fairy to Get This Real Pinocchio Lamp
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With a High-Tech Flagship and Cool Collabs, Lladró Is Breaking the Mold for Porcelain Production
Thanks to its new leadership, the Spanish maker of figurines, busts and lighting is on a mission to update the art of porcelain for the 21st century.
Christopher Tennant’s Lamps and Dioramas Evoke Sunny Days and Seaside Locales
The former magazine editor blends elements of the Far East and America’s eastern shores, bringing wit and delight to his handmade, upcycled designs.
Paavo Tynell’s Snowflake Chandelier Warms Up Any Room
This circa 1950 piece by the legendary Finnish lighting designer spent the past several decades in a family's home in Michigan.
NASA Parachutes Inspired Lighting Designer Bec Brittain’s New Collection
In "Paraciphers," now on view at Emma Scully Gallery in New York, Brittain introduces works that were more than a decade in the making.