History of Lamp Styles Infographic
The first lamps were created around 70,000 BC by lighting moss and animal fat on fire inside hollow rocks.
The hollow stone rocks were substituted with various other materials, such as pottery, clay, glass, shells, iron, and brass. Additionally, animal fat was replaced with oil, petroleum, coal, alcohol, and turpentine, and electricity eventually won out as the preferred method of lighting a space.
The word lamp derives from the Greek word lampas, which means torch. This word originated in the 7th Century BC when Greeks began using terra cotta lamps in place of torches.
While lamps were originally created solely for the purpose of lighting an area, they have since evolved substantially in design to not only make them more efficient, but also to make them more aesthetically appealing.
In 3000 BC, our main concept of lamps’ precursor, candles, were invented.
In 900 AD, the original kerosene lamp is invented, and just 100 years later, the first street lamps appeared in Cordoba.
In 1835, British inventors proved that constant electric light is possible by demonstrating with their arc lamp.
Incandescent lighting was officially introduced in 1879. It took until the early 1900s for individuals to see this type of lighting within their homes. At this time, boxy styles were popular, as were shorter lamps with bronze finishes. Handcrafted glass was a favorite ornamentation of lamps during the early 1900s.
The 1920s brought about new design styles and new colors, such as decadent golds and rich burgundies. It was during this decade that interior design became a more accepted and popular profession, and lighting design focused on glamour, exotic design, and lavish style.
The 1930s and 1940s ushered in art deco design, most often rendering lamps in red, black, silver, and gold. Chrome and plastic (specifically Bakelite) became the most popular materials for lamps to be made out of.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, lamp styles continued to evolve to mirror the post-war era and the age of rebellion. Bold colors, psychedelic shapes, animal prints, and space age design made their ways in lighting styles across the country.
The 1980s saw modernism and minimalism introduced, and lighting design styles began embracing shiny surfaces, metallic accents, geometric design, and some art deco throwback of the 1920s.
In the 1990s, shabby chic style was all the rage, and Arts & Crafts lighting design styles made their way into the homes of many.
Today, lamp styles vary according to individual taste and design preference. All of the previous styles are still popular and trendy, as the 2000s embrace the greatness of the past by bringing it seamlessly into the present.
Sources:
“Lamps and Lighting History” http://www.affordablelamps.com/lamp-and-lighting-history.html
“Lamps Through the Ages” https://www.mylampparts.com/blog/post/Lamps-Through-The-Ages.aspx
“Timeline of Lighting Technology” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_lighting_technology
