How Do You Value An Antique Table Lamp?
An antique table lamp could be a significant piece–if it falls within a set of criteria for monetary and historical value as established by antique experts and dealers. When you find an interesting old lamp, you can go a long way toward determining its value by applying the same set of criteria the pros do and adding up the lamp’s “scores.” Plug in the lamp, be sure there’s a bulb in it and see if it will turn on. Even a highly collectible lamp, such as a stained-glass piece made by Louis Comfort Tiffany, has significantly less value if it won’t actually illuminate. If the lamp works, that’s a plus. Unplug the lamp and examine it for signs of hardware repairs. A lamp of lesser value will show tell-tale signs that it’s been repaired over the years: a modern lamp switch, a modern Underwriters Laboratories sticker on the receptacle, a plug with a modern wider polarizing blade, a bright and shiny harp, and so forth. A valuable lamp will be intact with all its original parts. Most of these
