Exploring Costs of Restored Antique lamps

On occasion, I’m asked why antique lamps are expensive.  The short answer is materials. The long answer is sourcing, beads, shipping costs, scarcity of textiles and lamps, and the significant amount of time invested to create them.

Antique textiles are not cheap.  When you consider what it takes to preserve 100-year-old textiles, it’s not surprising. In some cases, a set of four antique silk appliques can cost hundreds of dollars—and I’ve seen some in the thousands. Authentic metal lace is no longer made so what’s out there is all that will ever be made—scarcity drives up cost.

Pristine antique lamp bases are not easy to find.  Many century-old lamps are warped, cracked or rusted beyond repair.  They all need to be rewired for safety and many must be painted and sealed to continue preservation. But they are so very worth the effort!  The style and quality of workmanship in antique lamps far exceeds that of today.

Let’s not forget beads.   Some of my lamps have over 6,000 hand-strung beads on the shade.  Most of them hover around 2,000 but those little gems add up to some whopping costs. Personally, I’m not a fan of plastic or acrylic beads.   I like the weight, the sparkle and the luminescence of glass, crystal and semi-precious stone beads, so I’m willing to pay for that kind of beauty.

Time is another crucial element to deciphering costs associated with restored antique lamps.  Works of art take precious time and endless patience to create. But you can see the benefit of that time spent in the exquisite detail of each lamp, which is designed to last a lifetime.

So are restored antique lamps worth the cost?  You bet they are!!  Every restored lamp is one-of-kind, never to be replicated.  Perhaps that is the upside to scarcity of materials—you know you’re looking at something that simply cannot be replicated, ever.

Current Collection of Lamps and Lampshades

Have a look at the current collection of available Victorian lampshades, beaded antique lamps and vintage style lampshades in stock at Elegance Lamps. Stock is updated regularly and you are sure to find something that you love.

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Crystal Hayes is a lifelong Seattle resident who gains inspiration from the natural beauty and vibrant arts communities in the Pacific Northwest. She thrives on creative expression resulting in unique Victorian lampshades, vintage lampshades, and antique lamps that can be used in everyday life. Crystal is entirely fearless when it comes to design, she is a perfectionist at construction techniques, and she proves that customer satisfaction still matters.

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