It Was Popular In The Early 1900s — Now It's The Pricey Pottery Lamp We Want For Table Decor

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Stylish statement lighting is one of the most effective ways to brighten up your space. We've known this for thousands of years — even in the ancient world, lamps were used as both a decorative accent and a practical way to boost visibility. While it's less common to have an ornate bronze oil lamp sitting pride of place in the modern day, this taste for luxury certainly didn't erode with time — it evolved to reflect the trending styles of each period. In the early 20th century, for example, lamps produced by the Fulper Pottery Company were all the rage. Now, they've become even more valuable as they've earned a reputation as a collectable antique.

Fulper lamps were both innovative and on-trend when they were first produced. Designs drew heavily from the then-popular Arts and Crafts movement, a widespread initiative to push back against the rise of industrialization and place value on handmade, beautiful goods. Pottery was a major focus in the movement, as was lighting, so Fulper's Vasekraft line became the perfect complement to contemporary Arts and Crafts homes. While these lamps received extensive praise from critics at the time, nothing lasts forever. Fulper only sold its Vasekraft lamps from 1911 to 1918 or 1919, likely due to a dip in sales thanks to the Great Depression.

Things didn't stop there for Fulper, however. While the designs changed over the years, the company continued producing stylish lamps for a few more decades, eventually shifting its focus to dinnerware in the mid-'30s and changing its name to Stangl Pottery Company in 1955. Lamps from the Vasekraft line are by far the most valuable today, but later designs can still fetch a pretty penny.

Fulper first started out as a producer of utilitarian objects in the early 1800s, but in 1909, it decided to expand its repertoire to include a number of more artistic objects, including bowls, vases, mugs, and eventually, lamps under the Vasekraft line. What made Vasekraft lamps so innovative wasn't their handmade feel, though that was responsible for much of their appeal. Rather than simply making the base out of pottery, the design, shade, and all were composed of the same material. 

While nuances of these lamp designs vary heavily, there are a few stylistic through-lines that can help you identify a Vasekraft lamp from a distance. The matching pottery shade is the most unique characteristic, though most styles also include art glass inlays that allow light to shine through. The shades are usually squatter than a typical lamp and feature an enclosed top, sometimes giving the lamp a distinctive mushroom shape. The glazes are also worth noting — while some designs had more solid coloring, most featured marbling or drips that created a multi-tonal look.

Because of their unique design and limited production timeline, Vasekraft lamps have become an incredibly valuable holy grail item for modern collectors. If you're lucky enough to stumble across one of these lamps secondhand and are able to authenticate your latest thrifting find, you could be looking at a massive payday. Vases from this line in good condition are regularly valued between $2,500 and $15,000 — one model even sold for a whopping $44,000 at auction.

If you don't have a spare $40,000 to blow on decor, don't worry — Fulper produced plenty of other lamp designs that are still worth keeping your eyes peeled for. These included both simpler, base-only styles that put the producer's stunning glazes on display, as well as more sculptural nightlights that most frequently took the shape of women with flowing skirts. Considering the fact that the company began moving away from decorative objects and toward dinnerware in 1935, these lamp designs were likely produced in the '20s and early '30s, making them over or nearly 100 years old. Their age alone contributes to their value, but compared to the Vasekraft line, they're a steal.

Prices can vary wildly, but glazed Fulper lamp bases usually go for between $200 and $600 secondhand. The smaller, sculptural nightlights, on the other hand, most often come in between $85 and $200 for both the lamp and cover in good condition. Especially rare designs can increase the value, however — some can get up to $800.

Identifying later Fulper lamps at a glance can be a bit of a struggle due to the increased variety of designs, but thankfully, items produced by the brand throughout its history feature a very clear "FULPER" stamp that can confirm their origin. While the later lamps aren't a once-in-a-lifetime find like those from the Vasekraft line, they're still an interesting piece of history that can act as a stylish accent in your home.