Following up on my story about the history of porcelain light fixtures — which were popular from the late 1920s into the 1950s — here is research about where to buy them. I scoured the internet for reproduction porcelain lights… and also have some suggestions on where to find them vintage. Above: The Selma from Rejuvenation.
Where to buy reproduction porcelain lighting fixtures
These days, I could find just a few places that sell reproduction porcelain sconces, over-the-mirror-lights and ceiling fixtures. Here are my finds:
#1 Rejuvenation — Update 2019: Rejuvenation’s selection of vintage-style porcelain bathroom sconces is a shadow of what it was in 2012, when this story was first written. I can find only a few examples left that fit my criteria for lighting that looks like it would have been made back in the day, with my focus especially on sconces.
Schoolhouse Electric: This company also has several nice porcelain lighting designs, the porcelain comes in white or black… and there are a variety of shade designs to choose from –>
A third place I found nice reproductions was Urban Archeology. They have two designs, and if I’m reading correctly, three colors — white, parchment and ivory –>
Fourth: Wanna go really cheap and cheerful? I found this porcelain socket base at Lighting Universe for $9.24. I bet you can get something very similar, if not identical, at a big box store. Put a pretty bare bulb in it, and you are rocking and rolling–>
That’s it for new. Other places I thought to look — but came up empty handed — were Barn Light Electric, Menard’s, Home Depot, Waterworks. Note, we were tipped at one point about a $30 porcelain sconce at Lowe’s, but we could never find it online.
Where to find vintage porcelain light fixtures
Now that I’ve covered what’s available new, now it’s time for where to find porcelain lighting vintage. You know I prefer vintage — because I prefer the hunt, and “authenticity”. In addition, there are many, many more vintage styles available — lots more shapes — especially in the ceiling fixtures, and also in other pastel colors, with flowers and other absolutely charming designs, too. It’s real eye candy, that’s for sure. Even so, sometimes you don’t have the time or the patience to hunt down vintage, then have it rewired — like when I needed a black porcelain bathroom light for my mom’s bathroom renovation. It’s good to have both choices.
If you have the time and desire, though, here are some of the sources I’d try for vintage lighting:
- Rejuvenation’s Restored Antique Lighting
- OldHouseLights.com
- PeriodBath.com
- Chippy at World of Tile may still have some sconces (see my photos here, there may have been more), but then maybe I think she told me she got wiped out with one phone call after the New York Times story. Worth a shot.
-
Porcelain lights aren’t just for bathrooms. Sweethearts like this vintage Sears light — for sale at Rejuvenation — can be used in bedrooms, even kitchens. Ebay — of course.
- Etsy — of course.
- Your local Re-Store — of course.
- Estate sales — as Forties Fan noted in a comment on the history story, “Believe it or not, the garage is a great places to find vintage porcelain sconces (and other fixtures) at estate sales. Many times, the house underwent a do-it-yourself’ bathroom renovation at some point. The Depression-era mentality of never throwing good things away still lingered, so the homeowner would carefully wrap up the old light fixtures and store them in the garage. The best part is that the fixtures are usually not priced, and those running the sale are usually willing to let them go for a song.” I agree — basements are a great place to hunt, too, for the remodel leftovers.
- Craigslist — maybe.
- Local salvage places
kizilod says
Vintage Hardware and Lighting sells a reproduction Deco sconce and coordinating flush mount ceiling fixture.
http://www.vintagehardware.com/proddetail.php?prod=28936
http://www.vintagehardware.com/proddetail.php?prod=28937
Pam Kueber says
Thanks for the tip, kizilod!
lcgeneral says
Thank you x 3 for this compilation. After many searches for a vanity light with an on/off switch, I took a break and sulked that we’d be stuck with what is in our house. Then I searched for “vintage bathroom lights” and viola! This page of great suggestions. I now feel overwhelmed with options. Thanks again!
pam kueber says
Yay! This story is a bit old, so there may be even more options! Start by digging into the companies listed. Good luck!
Susan Hansen says
How do I check on prices on these light fixtures? I am a little confused. Thanks!
pam kueber says
Click on the links to each company discussed.
Kristy says
I have 2x Selma’s in black flanking a mirror over my pedestal sink. Someday the mirror will be replaced by the original medicine cabinet I pulled out to restore and haven’t gotten around to putting back up yet. When I pulled down the drywall, the underlying plaster showed that originally there had been 2x circular sconces flanking the medicine cabinet but they were lost in the 70’s renovation I’m currently undoing. *sigh* I like the look though – I bought most of the Chandler line in black for my accessories (towel bar, etc). It’s a nice look, and close to appropriate for my 1918 craftsman.
Kathryn says
Well, if you’re in the San Diego area, check out the local Salvation Armies…
I collected (obsessed on) vintage 30s-50s light shades for 5 years, and then put them all in a boxes for donation recently when I was finished restoring my 1938 Moderne Bungalow and realized I was ready to move on!
Just another Pam says
I was at an unexpected estate sale today that was just amazing. The bathroom had the black, so awesome. Actually it had all kinds of great lighting that we couldn’t buy….has to stay with the house so when it’s torn down all can be lost….sulk…pout…
It’s a pretty grungy place but some of the bits and pieces are so wonderful I will try to get back tomorrow and get some photos.
bluecanary says
Ooooh….I would so be sneaking up in there for some salvage action. Or wait around and see if they bring in a salvage company for the teardown and buy it off them, sometimes that’s what happens….
Just another Pam says
Wouldn’t that be lovely but, alas, the people who bought it bid it up to 630,000 to tear it down….I mean really? But it has a large lot they can put two long narrow uber modern places on at just under a million each so they don’t think like us or even care for that matter. Such a pity as this place is adorable!
I’ll talk to the ladies and see if they’ll give them our email and phone number if they want to have some cash for some stuff….it’s all filthy but cleaning is well worth it.
bluecanary says
It’s worth a try and I hope you are successful. I hate to see cool old stuff get thrown away.
Chutti says
Also echoing the check in on tear down/salvage. If you are around San Diego, the great salvage people may be coming. I believe it’s part of the contract that everything be intact. These folks really, really do salvage EVERYTHING. Their team up here has great stuff in their store, and is the home of many of our best bargains. MY long awaited pink toilet, an awesome kitchen cabinet, 1930’s polychrome chandelier, etc. They actually put a label with the address of tear down and bulk stuff together. It’s possible to buy a whole room more or less.
http://thereusepeople.org/RetailSales
I secretly hope this is where stuff in the house is going.
But I’d be hanging around looking wistful, too.
Lauryn says
I have the Rufus over my stove. I love it!
Chutti says
That’s the first thing I thought of when I saw the Rufus. The shape, especially the shade totally echoes the lines of a classic O’Keefe and Merritt or Wedgewood range. I can mentally see the clock and/or salt and pepper shakers under it!
How do you think that would look in a bathroom? Seems like very much of a down light, so would pretty much have to just go over the mirror. Not sure that would work for me with makeup, but might be fine for shaving in the masculine bath.
How do you feel about the light that comes off yours?
It’s awful purty……….
Lauryn says
The light coming off it is fantastic … we had no light above our stove, so anything would have been better, but it really does an amazing job (and we have less than half the wattage bulbs in it) while looking fantastic. I just held a small mirror underneath it and I actually think it would work fine over a mirror. I also think it would work over a medicine cabinet, but it might depend on how far out the cabinet is from the wall.
We are on a waiting list for a restored 30″ Wedgewood stove, which I am 99% we cannot afford. But it’s a long wait and who knows, maybe we’ll win the lottery before our name comes up!
Chutti says
Good luck with your stove! I just felt that shape totally went with it.
I don’t know where you are, but have you looked on Craigslist?
DH is brilliant at restoring, but others have said a solid gas stove is not too tricky. If it’s still working at the home where it is, it’s a pretty good bet. I’ve seen them as low as $500 in the SF Bay area where they come from.
Also- FYI- PGE and most power companies will turn on the pilot and adjust it for you at no cost. That is often 1/2 of the service the renovators provide on installation.
Wishing you luck!
Lauryn says
Thanks! We are in Iowa (a long way from SF!) and there is a real dearth of vintage stoves here, it seems. That, and because we need a 30″, which were pretty uncommon, it’s a bit more of a challenge. There is a place in Oklahoma City and I’d be willing to drive there (yes I’m that crazy), so I check their inventory periodically, but I’ve not seen a 30″ yet. Mostly, though, I’m perfectly okay with the Kenmore we have. It doesn’t look out of place and it does the job and it doesn’t need any work. Still, those Wedgewoods are SO gorgeous.
G.G. says
Older family member’s garages and basements are great resources. When I redid my bathroom I got a whole box of light fixtures my grandparents had installed in in the 40s and then replaced in the 70s. They were still in a box ready to go after all these years. They also had several boxes of unused 40s tile and other supplies that they were happy to give me.