Glass Fairy Lamps

One of the most sought after collectibles in both new and vintage lighting are glass fairy lamps. This type of light was invented by Samuel Clarke in the late 1800's and generally used as a night light. Usually lit by a candle in floating water, it originally had a paper shade. This lamp caught on quickly and became quite popular. It was produced by many companies and many versions of the little lamp were manufactured. The paper shade was soon replaced with glass and some became very elegant.

Companies like Mosser, Indiana Glass, LE Smith, Viking, Westmoreland and Fenton began manufacturing these lamps. Many of the patterns and glass types in early production were crafted from a practical standpoint and they weren't all that pretty. Later, as they became wildly popular, they were made by art glass companies in many beautiful designs and glass types.

The Fenton Art Glass company really came back strong with Fairy lamps in the 50's and some of them are absolutely beautiful! These lamps are still manufactured by Fenton, Mosser and other companies today. They are still very collectible and many people anticipate and purchase the new designs year after year for their displays.

Finding vintage fairy lamps is a hobby for many art glass enthusiasts. Local antique shops are a good source but you will pay a lot. Attending estate sales and auctions is another good source and you can usually find some great lamps at great prices. The downside is the time it takes to find and travel to these sales. It's also seasonal, winter is not a good time for estate sales.

One of the best places for purchasing these fairy lights is online auctions like eBay. The selection is very good as well as the prices. There are hundreds of these collectibles available, mostly vintage, and even some rare Viking, S Clarke, Westmoreland and Mosser can still be found for your collection. The vintage Fenton Glass fairy lamps are in great abundance and many in excellent condition. Whether you are a hardcore collector, a glass enthusiast or just starting out, the online auction is a worthwhile place for checking out glass fairy lamps.