Dear Helaine and Joe:
I would like to find out a value for my antique chandelier. A paper label on the underside of the metal shade reads “Underwriters Laboratory” at the top and “Lavery & Co” at the bottom. Is it possible for you to help me?
Thank you,
SCQ, Ft Lauderdale, Fla.
Dear SCQ:
Yes, it is possible we can offer a little help, but first it must be understood that by our standards this is nowhere near being an antique.
In our world, an object has to be at least 100 years old before it can be classified as being an antique. This lighting fixture does not meet that requirement by several decades. But we acknowledge that in the modern world, the designation “antique” has become a little more loosey-goosey to many people.
True, we would prefer that objects made in the mid-20th century be labeled retro or vintage, but we feel popular usage has made the term “antique” more inclusive than we would like. But to a certain extent on the current market, “vintage” and “retro” items may be more in favor than many actual antique pieces.
Underwriters Laboratory (UL) was founded in 1894 by William Henry Merrill, an electrical engineer who was sent to explore the Palace of Electricity at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. He is said to have envisioned the future use of electricity in every aspect of life and went to work developing safety standards for such things as fire doors and fire extinguishers, and later anything electrical that might be used in the home.
The UL approval label is a respected standard and has become ubiquitous in modern life. The only thing the label actually communicates is the light fixture was made by Lavery & Company. We know Lavery & Company was located in Southern California and some 44 years ago merged with the Minka Group to become Minka Lavery, which is still in business.
The fixture in today’s question is attractive with a shade that appears to either be copper or brass-plated (it is hard to be sure from the photographs). It appears to have four lights under the shade, which has a scalloped edge and a neoclassical victory wreath. This is the sort of fixture found in informal dining spaces in homes built post-World War II in the 1950s or even ’60s.
Today, it is a useful retro item that should be valued in the $100 to $125 range.
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Helaine Fendelman and Joe Rosson have written a number of books on antiques. Do you have an item you'd like to know more about? Contact them at Joe Rosson, 2504 Seymour Ave., Knoxville, TN 37917, or email them at treasures@knology.net. If you'd like your question to be considered for their column, please include a high-resolution photo of the subject, which must be in focus, with your inquiry.
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