Éclairage

Made for a different kind of light.

Most antique lighting began life burning oil, gas or candles, and was converted to electricity at some point in the twentieth century. Understanding what a piece originally was, how well it was converted, and what state its wiring is in now matters more here than in any other furniture category. The Antique Guild assesses form, originality and conversion quality before any lighting enters the collection, and is explicit about electrical condition. We deliver throughout Australia. Explore the current selection below.

Why collect antique lighting through The Antique Guild

Every lamp and light fitting assessed for period construction, material integrity and the authenticity of any glass, shade or decorative element
Specialist knowledge across bronze table lamps, Art Nouveau and Art Deco lamp bases, candelabra and early 20th-century decorative lighting
Sourced from private collections and specialist decorative arts estates, with particular depth in bronze and art glass examples
Lighting chosen for the quality of its making and the atmosphere it creates — antique light is unlike anything produced today

Care Guide

What to Look For When Buying

Establish the original form first. Converted oil lamps and gasoliers usually retain evidence of their earlier life, including redundant taps, plugged gas pipes, a font that once held oil, or a burner fitting that has been adapted. Conversion is entirely normal and does not diminish a good piece, but a well executed conversion that runs wiring discreetly through existing channels is a very different thing from one that has drilled through original metal or timber. Look at where the cable enters and exits, and at whether anything original has been cut away to accommodate it.

Then assess completeness and condition. Chandeliers and candelabra should have matching arms, drops and pans, and replaced crystal is common and usually visible in a difference of colour, clarity or cut. Check gilding and patinated surfaces for previous cleaning damage, since both are easily ruined and neither can be restored simply. Glass shades are frequently later replacements and should be examined for chips at the fitter rim. Ceiling pieces need a sound suspension point, and the weight of a chandelier is a genuine structural consideration. Every piece is assessed and described honestly, including its electrical status.

Caring for Your Piece

Electrical safety comes first. Antique lighting should be inspected by a licensed electrician before use, and rewired where the existing wiring is old, perished or of unknown age, which is the case with most pieces of this era. Ceiling fittings must be installed by a licensed electrician to current standards, using a fixing rated for the weight. Keep original fittings and components where they are removed, since they belong with the piece. Use lamps of the correct type and rating, and favour LED lamps, which run far cooler and are considerably kinder to old shades, painted surfaces and nearby timber.

Clean with the power off and, for ceiling pieces, at the switchboard. Dust crystal and glass with a soft brush or a barely damp cloth, working one drop at a time rather than spraying the whole fitting, since liquid runs into fittings and pins and causes corrosion and eventual failure. Never immerse a fitting or wash crystal in place. Do not polish gilded, lacquered or patinated metal, as all three finishes are thin and removing them is permanent. Tighten nothing by force, since old threads strip easily, and have any loose arm or joint attended to by a specialist in period lighting rather than a general repairer.

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Does antique lighting need to be rewired?

Usually, yes. Wiring has a finite life, and cloth covered or early plastic wiring in a piece of this age should be regarded as needing replacement regardless of whether it currently works. Rewiring is routine, relatively inexpensive, and does not affect the value or integrity of a piece when done sympathetically. Have it assessed by a licensed electrician before the piece is put into use.
Does conversion from gas or oil reduce value?

Not in most cases. The great majority of surviving period lighting was converted decades ago, and the market accepts it. What affects value is the quality of the conversion: whether original material was cut, drilled or discarded to accommodate it, and whether the piece can be read as what it originally was. A reversible, discreet conversion that retains the original components is the ideal.
Can I clean a crystal chandelier myself?

Light dusting, yes, with the power off at the switchboard. Anything more is worth leaving to someone experienced, because the pins and hooks holding drops are old, thin and easily bent, and drops removed without a record of their position are difficult to return correctly. Never spray cleaner over a fitting or wash it in place, as liquid entering the fitting causes corrosion that shows up months later.
Are antique light fittings suitable for bathrooms or outdoors?

No. Period fittings are not made or rated for damp or exposed locations, and current electrical standards govern what may be installed in those areas. A licensed electrician will advise on what is permitted. Keep antique lighting to dry interior spaces.
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