How to Appraise Antique Lighting

Know your light fixture. The more you know about your piece the easier it will be to determine its value. Check the light fixture for a manufacturer's signature or mark. Look for a copyright date or date of manufacture. Hunt for a serial number. If you can find any of these, you will be able to narrow your research to a specific maker or time period. Also, people will often pay more for lighting that was made by a well-known maker or that was produced during a specific era.

Study price guides for antique lighting. Seeing how different lights are valued will help you learn to appraise antique fixtures. Check at bookstores or the library to find these guidebooks, or check on Amazon.com. Some examples of lighting price guides are "Antique Trader Lamps &Lighting Price Guide" by Kyle Husfloen, "Better Electric Lamps of the '20s and '30s With Prices" by Moe Bridges, and "Quality Electric Lamps: A Pictorial Price Guide" by L-W Publishing.

Check the marketplace. Often, you can get a good idea of what your piece is worth by seeing for what price similar fixtures are selling. Visit local stores that sell antique lighting and look at their inventories. Check online sellers that specialize in vintage fixtures and compare their prices. Go to an Internet auction site like eBay and look at the realized prices of completed auctions. To access this feature on eBay, you must complete the free registration process and set up an account.

Get a professional appraisal. Hire an appraiser if you have several pieces of antique lighting, for instance if you have an old home with many original fixtures or if you have a piece that you suspect is valuable, such as an authentic Tiffany lamp. Consult the American Society of Appraisers or the International Society of Appraisers to find an expert specializing in antique lighting. Hiring an appraiser from these sources will provide you with a written appraisal from an accredited professional that can be used for insurance purposes.