Traditional Lightingby Susan PhillipsOctober 23, 2004

“Nothing new underThe sun.”

Ecclesiastes 1:9

Daylight

• The Pantheon

• 120 AD by Hadrian

Oil Lamps

• Pan lamps

• One of the earliestlights

Oil Pendant Lamps

• Roman Pendant

• Central oil font

• More wicks increased

brightness

Oil Lamps

• Argand Lamp

• New technology by

Antoine Lavoisier

in 1770

• Better light output

• More control

Whale Oil Lamps

• Used 1789-1865

• Oval or inverted pear

oil font

(Paraffin) Kerosene Lamp

• Used 1854-1930

• Squat-shaped oil

font

Colza Oil Lamp

• Used 1783-1859

• Squat-shaped oil

font

• Student lamp style

still in use as electric

Gas Lamp

• Used 1817-1920

• Gas valve

• Coal gas was produced

in the cities

• Could damage interiors

with heat

Gas Lighting

• Used in industry

• Used in exterior lighting

Gas/Electric Lighting

• First fixtures combination

or gas to electric conversion

• Gas lamps up, electric down

Candles• Rushlights were the first• Split rush dipped in fat• Burned quickly• Used 600 BC-1400s AD

Candles• Tallow candles 500 AD• Used by the poor

• Wax candles used by

wealthy• Poor had few, dim interior• Rich had many, brighter• Crystals reflected light

Candles• Saltram House, Devon• The Adam Saloon• The Morning Room• All candlelit as in the

days of George II.• Pendants at ladder

height or lowered

by pulley

Example of smaller home• One lamp• Less illumination as

Doctor tends patient

Examples of reproduction

period fixtures

by Rejuvenation

1890s to 1950

Early Eclectic/Victorian

• “Oregon City”

• Gas style Victorian

• More ornate

Early Eclectic/VictorianExample: Astoria Lamp

• Gas/electric style

• Late Victorian

Early 1900s

• Early simple pendant

• Cloth-covered cord

• 1890 reproduction

Edison 40 watt bulb

1910English/Tudor Style

1900-1925Mission Style

1900-1940Colonial Revival Style

1900-1940Colonial Revival or

Craftsman Style

1920 - 1950Porcelain Art Deco

•“Sanitary” bath & kitchen fixture

•Knob switch

•Porcelain was popular even after WWII.

•Combined Art Deco & Streamline Styling

1930-1950Art Deco

•Slipper shade fixture

•Suitable for dining, living and bedrooms

Mid-Late 1930sStreamline or Machine age

•Hollywood Indirect lamp influence

•Typical lamp names of that era:

•Glolite•Tranquilite•Reflecto Light

The traditional fixture forms used from the

Romans to the Machine Age are still used today to

beautify and brighten homes.