Vintage Lights Approaches 20 Years in Business

    PRESCOTT, AZ, September 22, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Goethe stated: "I call architecture frozen music". Architecture of his day had a magic about it, much the same way vintage and antique lighting has this music or "magic". You only need to Listen to Your Eyes to hear it.

Nearly twenty years ago, Patrick Brady was restoring a 1908 Craftsman house in Seattle, WA, and could not find light fixtures to complete the authentic look of his home. Contemporary reproductions were much lighter in weight than the originals and did not have the right feeling and look to them. The few period fixtures Patrick could find were far out of the price range for a young guy spending most of his savings on the restoration of an historic house.

His job at the time took him all around the country and one day he walked into an antiques shop near Grand Rapids, MI. After some pleasant conversation with the owner, he heard the words that all dealers hope for: "Well, I've got a barn full of stuff in the back. You're free to look around if you like."

That moment was the beginning of a love of vintage lighting for Patrick and the start of VintageLights.com, a successful internet business. The barn was filled with all those things that usually fill up a barn, but every rafter was groaning with antique light fixtures, some of which were just what Patrick was looking for and perfect for his project. He purchased twelve that day and has bought several thousand since. 20 years later, Vintage Lights is proud to have over two decades of service and thousands of satisfied customers.

Patrick's background in remodeling and electronics was a perfect fit for vintage and antique lighting rejuvenation. He found that his greatest area of interest were fixtures from the late 19th century when designers were first freed from the use of tanks and delivery mechanisms for kerosene, gas and oil. Suddenly their only power source was a wire, allowing them to create the beautiful and unique lighting from that period, particularly the flowing lines and artistic glass of the Art Nouveau movement. Another special interest to Patrick is the "slip shade" lighting of the twenties and thirties of the last century, where glass shades slip into a shoulder or channel. Although they were first used much earlier, they are associated with the decorating styles of the 1920's and 1930's.

One of Patrick's most interesting finds was a circa 1910 Norwegian copper fixture with hand-hammered images of trolls on all sides. Not surprisingly, it was found at an estate sale in Wisconsin, home of many families whose ancestors immigrated from Scandinavia. Its unique and intriguing form makes it a standout among fixtures of the period.

VintageLights.com has prospered even in the recent economic downturn since his customers are aware that all the fixtures are "recycled" and have a much lower carbon footprint than commercially made products imported from abroad. Their design is better, they are made of solid copper or bronze, and nothing can equal the feeling of these hand made fixtures. The recent resurgence of interest in the Bungalow, Craftsman, Storybook, Spanish Revival, and Arts And Crafts movements has helped Patrick to continue his search for the best and maintain VintageLights.com as a source of interesting and authentic, antique and vintage lighting.

His prices are determined by several factors: initial and refurbishing cost, rarity, market levels and his own interest in the piece. Patrick's personal favorite manufacturer is Handel, a contemporary of Tiffany and Stickley . Due to the large amount of bronze used and their proportional design and intricate detailing, Patrick claims that "Nothing anchors a Craftsman home better than Handel fixtures. They have an authority and authenticity like no other."

VintageLights.com does not have a brick and mortar location, but is entirely web based. Patrick says that rather than waiting for customers, the reach of the Internet allows customers to come to him from around the world. This allows him to spend more time looking for and restoring vintage lighting, assuring his customers of an ever changing and unique inventory. (This week, 9/23/2011, they are shipping a vintage fixture to Hong Kong).

VintageLights.com also provides a free resource in the "Old Catalogs" section of their website. It is the largest free online library of original vintage and antique lighting catalogs containing over 10,000 images of vintage lighting and lamps of all styles. This is an unparalleled source for information going back many years and is the perfect place to begin a search for authentic fixtures and chandeliers.

VintageLights.com provides authentic vintage lighting with a level of design, proportion, and beauty not seen in contemporary fixtures and at prices that are comparable to, and in many cases, lower than lighting produced today. Early lighting was by artisans who had studied design in Europe and has a nostalgic feel that cannot be duplicated or manufactured. As a collectible, vintage lighting continues to increase in value as the supply gradually decreases and the demand continues to climb.

Patrick's words of advice to customers looking for authentic vintage lighting are "patience" and "planning". "Don't wait until the electrician is on his way. It may take some time to find the right fixtures," Patrick says. "Since vintage lighting is in limited supply, buy fixtures and lamps as you find them and stockpile for your project," he advises.

Many customers have claimed that they will keep the fixtures they purchased from VintageLights.com for the rest of their lives. Someone a hundred years ago said the same thing. And someone else will say it in years to come. The enduring quality of www.VintageLights.com's inventory surpasses simple need. It is indeed an investment in both the past and the future. The entire team at Vintage Lights wishes to thank their loyal customers and partners over the last 20 years of business!

About Vintage Lights
The Vintage Lights website is a culmination of years (literally) of dreams, talk and planning. Our mission is to share with you the wonderful world of Vintage and Antique Lighting. During the unique period of 1890 - 1930, art and craftsmanship was combined with the new technology, electricity, and artisans created some of the most beautiful and compelling accents in modern history. William Morris stated in 1882, "If you want a golden rule that will fit everybody, this is it: Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." Authentic Vintage Lighting fulfils this golden rule.

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