Antique and Vintage Wall Sconces: Brass, Glass and Plug-In

An antique or vintage wall sconce is either hardwired, mounted over a wall box by an electrician, or plug-in, with a cord that runs to an outlet. Choose by the wall you have, then check the backplate, the sockets and the glass or alabaster shade. Have old wiring replaced with listed parts before the sconce goes up.

Hardwired or plug-in: which do you need?

Whether a sconce should be hardwired or plug-in depends on the wall. A hardwired sconce mounts over an electrical box in the wall and connects to the house wiring, so it suits a wall that already has a box, or a room being rewired. Installing one is a job for an electrician.

A plug-in sconce has a cord that drops from the backplate to an outlet, often with a switch on the cord. It needs no box and no wiring work, which makes it the practical choice for renters and for a bedside or reading light on a plain wall.

Many antique sconces were made to be hardwired. A lamp shop can often convert one to plug-in with a new cord, switch and plug.

Antique and vintage wall sconces

Shop antique and vintage wall sconces→

Opens eBay in a new tab. Check condition, seller feedback and returns.

• Brass sconcesBrowse →
• Sconce pairsBrowse →
• French wall lightsBrowse →
• Plug-in sconcesBrowse →

What should you check on an antique brass sconce?

Look at four things in the listing photos, and ask for more if they are missing:

1. The backplate. Brass or bronze backplates bend and lose their mounting holes. Check that the plate is flat and that any decorative cap or finial is present.
2. The arms and sockets. A two-arm or three-arm sconce should have every socket, and the sockets should match. A replaced socket is normal on an old piece; a missing one is a repair to price in.
3. The glass. Frosted, etched or molded shades are the hardest part to replace. Ask about chips at the rim where the shade sits in its holder.
4. The wiring. Old cloth-covered wire should be replaced. On a sconce that has already been rewired, ask what parts were used: the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) advises checking that electrical products carry the mark of a recognized testing laboratory, such as UL, ETL or CSA.

UL Solutions says its mark “means a product has been certified to meet scientific safety, quality or security standards.” It uses a separate Recognized Component Mark for parts that go inside a larger certified product, so a new socket with that mark is a sound part, not a certificate for the whole old sconce. For tarnished arms and backplates, the brass cleaning guide sets out a gentle order of work.

How do you look after an alabaster sconce?

Alabaster shades give a soft, even glow, and the stone is far more delicate than it looks. The National Park Service’s conservation note on alabaster says it is “extremely brittle and is easily bruised,” can be scratched with a fingernail, and is “readily water soluble, while marble is not.”

Its care advice for alabaster lamps and shades is short:

• Wear gloves. “Finger oils will penetrate the surface and will eventually cause staining, or attract soil.”
• Dry brush only. Use a soft bristle brush rather than a cloth, which builds static that attracts dirt. “If anything more than simple dry brushing is required, consult a conservator.”
• Keep the heat down. The NPS advises reducing wattage or using a physically smaller bulb to limit heat on alabaster lampshades.
• Leave stains alone. The NPS warns that rubbing, or even blotting a fresh spill, can drive a stain in. Ask a conservator instead.

Some yellowing and soiling comes with age. The NPS suggests accepting a less than pristine surface as a patina rather than risking damage by cleaning it.

Art deco wall sconces with glass and alabaster shades

Shop art deco wall sconces→

Opens eBay in a new tab. Check condition, seller feedback and returns.

• Pairs of sconcesBrowse →
• Vanity lightsBrowse →

What are French candle-style electric sconces?

Candle-style electric sconces copy the shape of the wall candle holders that came before electric light: one to five curved arms, each ending in a candle-shaped sleeve that holds a small bulb. Listings for antique French wall lights in this style usually give the metal, such as gilt bronze or brass, and whether the sconces come as a pair. Ask for the height and the spread of the arms so you can check the fit beside a mirror or door.

When you shop, look for the bulb base each socket takes. Many candle-style sconces use a small candelabra base, so check that you can buy bulbs in that size and in the wattage the sockets allow.

Which sconce suits the room?

• Hallways and stairs: a single-arm sconce with a frosted shade gives soft light without glare.
• Beside a bed or reading chair: a plug-in sconce with a switch on the cord.
• Either side of a mirror: a matched pair. For bathroom rules, see the art deco bathroom and vanity light guide.
• Colored light: leaded glass shades, covered in the stained glass sconce guide.

Vintage brass table and floor lamps

Shop vintage brass lamps→

Opens eBay in a new tab. Check condition, seller feedback and returns.

• Brass table lampsBrowse →
• Brass floor lampsBrowse →
• Stiffel lampsBrowse →

For ceiling fixtures to go with your sconces, see the chandelier and ceiling light guide; for iron candle sconces, the wrought iron lighting guide. Back to the art deco lighting guide.