Antique Hurricane Lamps Worth Money: How to Spot Valuable Ones

The hurricane lamp has a chimney or globe of glass that protects the flame from drafts. These lamps are usually from the late Victorian era, 1880 to 1910, and are also called parlor lamps because of their ball shade and matching glass font (fuel tank).

Another name for these lamps is the Gone With the Wind Lamps.

How Much Are Old Hurricane Lamps Worth?

Most old Hurricane lamps range from $20-$800, but some hand-painted Victorian lamps and signed Baccarat candle lamps will go above $1,000. The burner, the paint, and the markings give you more information regarding the value of the Gone with the Wind lamp than the nickname does.

10 Collectible Antique Hurricane Lamps Worth Money

Manufacturing Years	c. 1890s to 1960s
Shapes	Single-light candle lamps, mantel lusters, candelabra
Key Features	Etched scalloped shade, drop prisms, cabochon stem
Collectors’ Notes	A signed shade & signed base add value

The French crystal company Baccarat made some of the most coveted prism candle lamps. They usually feature an etched shade and cut crystal bobeche (drip collar), decorated with drop prisms.

Check for an acid-etched signature near the top of the shade or under the bottom of the lamp to confirm authenticity.

The decanter-and-glasses symbol dates earlier than the script signature.

Manufacturing Years	c. 1960s to 1980s
Shapes	Ball shade lamps, 22 to 29 inches tall
Key Features	Embossed poppies, ruffled shade rim, cast metal foot
Collectors’ Notes	Check the ruffled rim for chips

Unlike the hand-painted Fenton lamps, the Poppy line depends on the mold.

The raised poppies decorate both the fringed shade and the round font, with the ruby dating from around 1970. Ruby pieces fetch the best prices. The same mold was made in white, blue, green satin glass, custard, and milk glass.

Manufacturing Years	1970 to 2011
Shapes	Ball shade, student, and boudoir lamps
Key Features	Burmese glass, hand-painted decoration, artist signature
Collectors’ Notes	Production ended in 2011

A signed Fenton Burmese Gone with the Wind Lamp fetched $510 on eBay, close to the top of its usual value range.

Fenton reintroduced Victorian Burmese glass in 1970. It ranges from light yellow to salmon pink and glows in black light due to its uranium content. Always look at the bottom for the decorator’s signature.

Manufacturing Years	c. 1890 to 1910
Shapes	Ball shade, 22 to 25 inches tall
Key Features	Matte red satin glass, blown-out grapes or drapes
Collectors’ Notes	Mismatched red tones lower value

Unlike other types of lampshades, Red Satin Glass has a soft texture due to its acid treatment process. Plus, these shades will typically feature matching fonts.

Blown-out patterns such as grape clusters, drapery designs, and sunflower shapes dominate this style of glass. The most valuable patterns include the grapes.

Also, both pieces must have identical colors; mismatched red tones lower value.

Manufacturing Years	c. 1880 to 1910
Shapes	Ball shade over squat font
Key Features	Hand-painted scenes, brass or iron foot
Collectors’ Notes	Original oil burners add value

These hurricane lamps feature a hand-painted ball-shaped shade and font. Both items typically display roses, poppies, or rural scenes, like the windmill sailboat scene in this example.

Here are the things to look for. Hand-applied paints reveal brushstrokes. Victorians applied shadows manually, resulting in texture on the surface. Smooth colors indicate newer transfers.

Manufacturing Years	c. 1930s to 1950s
Shapes	Candle hurricanes and boudoir lamps
Key Features	Hanging prisms, etched shade, marble base
Collectors’ Notes	Replacement prisms are common

The hanging prisms are what distinguish these. They were mostly produced between the 1930s and the 1950s because of the Hollywood Regency style and the popularity of crystal lighting. Cut crystal prisms are heavy with sharp facets, while acrylic prisms are lighter with soft facets.

Manufacturing Years	Mostly 1970s to 2000s
Shapes	Electric table and candle hurricanes
Key Features	Irish lead crystal, deep cuts, brass base

These are not antique but vintage, but they are sold consistently. The Waterford company made electric hurricane lamps in their cut patterns such as Lismore, Alana, and Inishmore with brass or silver-plated bases.

The Waterford company discontinued its line of lighting products. Check the etched “Waterford” mark, although some early products had stickers instead.

Manufacturing Years	c. 1950s to 1980s
Shapes	Ball shade, student, and boudoir lamps
Key Features	Milk glass, raised hobnails, ruffled rims
Collectors’ Notes	Molded oval logo means 1970 or later

These lamps are mid-tier pieces. Fenton’s milk glass hobnail hurricane lamps generally sell for less than $150 each, although they are very common and good sellers.

Hobnail refers to the rows of raised bumps. Pre-1970 Fenton products have no molded mark but only a paper label, which tends to fall off easily.

Manufacturing Years	1868 to 1971 in New York
Shapes	Hand, dash, railroad, and barn lanterns
Key Features	Side air tubes, marked globe, patent dates
Collectors’ Notes	Hong Kong or China marks mean later

If you search “Dietz hurricane lamp,” you will see tin lanterns instead of parlor lamps.

In 1868, Dietz began producing tubular lanterns. The hollow side tubes allow the flame to receive air and continue burning even when there is wind.

Common Dietz lanterns cost reasonably. The early American-made Dietz lanterns and bell-bottom Vesta are expensive.

Manufacturing Years	1894 to 1915
Shapes	Miniature, stand, and banquet lamps
Key Features	Raised flowers tinted pink, yellow, and blue
Collectors’ Notes	Worn or repainted flowers drop value

The design was created by Consolidated Lamp & Glass Co., Pennsylvania, between 1894 and 1915, coloring the blossoms pink, yellow, and blue. Feel the shade and notice the raised cosmos flowers pressed into the milk glass.

The Miniature Cosmos lamp is the coveted piece. Westmoreland reproduced the pattern later on, so examine the paint and mold quality.

How to Spot Valuable Hurricane Lamps?

The true value is in those pre-1920 lamps. Check the following details on your lamp to tell if it is valuable:

• Look at the font: Brass oil burner or font with holes drilled for cords means it’s kerosene. A night light in the lower globe indicates it was made electric.
• Look at the paint: Hand-painted will have brush marks; transfers will not.
• Look at the pieces: If it’s a married lamp, where the shade and font came from different lamps, it is worth less.
• Look at the markings: Burner and wick knob may be marked B&H, Miller, Plume & Atwood, and patent dates.
• Forget the UL label for dating: An Underwriters Laboratories label just means it was wired.

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