How do I wire an old lamp?

Rewiring requires passing modern heat-resistant flex through the central channel of the brass or stone column. Qualified electricians handle this to ensure safety without altering the outer metal or stone components. Original fittings can sometimes be retained, but modern lamp holders are usually fitted to meet current standards while securing safely to the threaded top of the column.

Were these originally oil lamps?

Many tall standard lamps and table lamps began life burning oil before conversion to electricity. Burner assemblies were removed or adapted to house bulb holders. Converted pieces often retain their original reservoirs or galleries, which serve as key indicators of their nineteenth or early twentieth century origins.

Onyx is a softer stone that reacts poorly to acidic cleaners or excessive moisture. A soft, dry cloth removes dust without dulling the polished surface of the stone. Metal components like brass and ormolu require gentle dusting, avoiding harsh metal polishes that might strip away the historic patination or damage adjacent stone sections.

Are these French or British?

French pieces often feature ornate ormolu mounts, cherubs, and champleve enamelwork from ateliers working in Neoclassical or Louis XV styles. British models tend towards more restrained Corinthian column designs in brass. Both origins appear frequently across the Victorian, Edwardian, and Art Deco periods represented on this page.