Asking about lighting could brighten your day

Around the middle of the 19th century before the implementation of electricity, piping natural gas into buildings and homes was started. The gas was primarily used for heating, cooking and lighting.  At that time, many candle chandeliers and sconces were replaced with modern gas-lit designs. The gas lighting fixture only continued for a few decades and was then quickly replaced by the electric fixture by the beginning of the 20th century. Actually, many gas fixtures were converted to electricity by passing wires through the gas lines and replacing the burners with sockets. Interestingly, even today virtually all lighting fixtures are made from pipe and fittings that were originally intended for gas use.
It wasn’t until about 1915 that the concept of a ceiling fixture came to be; candles couldn’t be put close to the ceiling for obvious reasons. The first fixtures were simply a porcelain socket with a bare bulb, which are still made and used today. Over time, more decorative designs with diffusers of all sorts were developed.   
  Today, folks love to find and use old fixtures from the early days of lighting. Fortunately, virtually all old fixtures can easily be rewired for safe use with modern bulbs. Fixtures in the mission or art deco styles are most sought after, especially if they retain their original glass or mica shades. Older Victorian styles still have some value but are going out of vogue, at least for now. Fixtures from the 1940s usually aren’t worth much but futuristic looking fixtures from the ‘50s and ‘60s are also in very high demand. Most fixtures from the ‘70s onward have very little desirability.
  If you’re remodeling or moving, show a picture of your lighting fixtures to an antique dealer before throwing them away. Good examples can sell for $1,000 or more. Most important is that you keep all mounting hardware when removing old fixtures. Just missing the original ceiling canopy can cut the value of a chandelier in half.
 
Scott Davis operates Rhode Island Antiques Mall, 345 Fountain St., Pawtucket. Contact him at (401) 475-3400 or Scott@riantiquesmall.com.